Criminals sometimes contact people looking for jobs randomly and sometimes specifically via the well-known chat platform. A daily wage of 50 to 300 euros a day when working from home may sound tempting. But be careful: you will become a money mule here, help criminals launder money and possibly make yourself a criminal offense! Our Watchlist Internet partners clarify and warn!
Money Mule: Part-time job too good to be true
The criminals' message is as follows:
Hello!
We have noticed that your background and CV are showing up in many online recruitment agencies and we would like to offer you a part-time job that you can do in your free time. The work is easy, there is no time limit and it can be done at home.
Daily wage: 50-300 euros.
All wages are paid on the same day. (Note: You must be over 20 years old) To confirm participation, please reply to [1] and indicate that you have been invited.
After replying to [1], please click the button below to contact WhatsApp customer service lady.
Why do criminals send such job offers?
For their online crimes, criminals need ways to launder their stolen funds and make them as difficult to trace as possible. To do this, they are increasingly relying on so-called money mules.
The English term “Money Mule” can be translated as “money transport donkey”! The term “financial agent” is also sometimes used. As a rule, a money mule is supposed to receive and forward funds in its own name. Often, incoming money should first be converted into cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and only then sent.
The criminals can, for example, specify the account of a money mule as a payment account in a fake shop. He then converts the money and sends it on to the criminals or other money mules in his own name. This allows the criminals to receive money undetected without any direct connection being apparent between them and the fake shop.
Money mules commit a criminal offense through their activities: They can be punished with a prison sentence for money laundering or with fines for administrative offenses under financial market law.
How can dubious job offers be identified?
If a job offer is only vaguely described as in this case, caution is advised. The criminals also do not state where they actually got the contact details from, but simply write from “many recruitment agencies”.
The following tasks should also not be necessary for a serious job:
In addition, you should always keep in mind that a job with high pay is unrealistic despite a lack of experience.
Have you already received or even forwarded money?
We recommend that you immediately file a police report and cut off contact with the criminals as soon as you suspect that you have fallen victim to a fraudulent job offer.
Advice & help
For specific advice requests, please contact the relevant offices that we have listed for you Advice & Help
Source:
Watchlist Internet
Already read? Language models like ChatGPT often invent things and sound extremely convincing. This problem is difficult to fix. Mimikama explains: GPT-4 & Co: Why the glorified AI loves to lie to you
Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )