A leading high street bank has warned students to beware of being lured into becoming a “money mule”.
Barclays said that the number of under-21s being recruited by criminals to launder money has more than tripled in the past three years.
But the bank said that its research found that only half of students would tell the police if they were asked to be a money mule and even fewer would tell their bank.
And one in twenty students said that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, they were more likely to consider making easy money if approached, even if it looked suspicious.
Barclays said: “Cash-strapped students are key targets for fraudsters, with 30 per cent of all money mules reported to Barclays last year, by victims and other banks, falling under the age of 21.
“Research revealed that half (52 per cent) of students worry about their financial situation on a weekly basis, which is leaving them vulnerable to some of the common techniques used by fraudsters.
“As many young people start to manage their own finances for the first time, Barclays is warning students heading back to university to be extra vigilant and aware of the risks.
“It’s common for criminals to use channels such as social media and messaging services to lure students into laundering dirty cash with fake job adverts offering easy money.
“These tactics appeal to students as six in ten (57 per cent) said that they would be tempted to click through to find out more about a recruitment advert for a dream role at a company they have never heard of.”
Ross Martin, head of digital safety at Barclays, said: “With the start of the new academic year, it’s a prime time for fraudsters to be targeting young people with the lure of making easy money.
“It might be particularly tempting given the current situation with the job market and the need for extra money if family finances are tight.
“Always do your research and check that the job is legitimate – don’t run the risk of damaging your future career and finances.”
Barclays added: “The research also suggests that while the number of students being targeted has increased significantly, nearly half of university students did not know what a money mule was.
“A money mule is someone who is asked to receive money into their bank account and transfer it into another account or who allows somebody to take control of their account.
“The money being transferred would be the proceeds of crime and the mule will be considered to be facilitating money laundering.
“The lack of awareness of money mules or the risks involved is making students more vulnerable to money mule scams.
“Nearly 40 per cent of the students asked were unaware that they could go to prison for up to 14 years.
“When asked who they would tell if they were approached to be a money mule, only half of students say that they would turn to the police and only two in five would tell their bank.
“The research also revealed that as a result of the added money pressures caused by the covid-19 pandemic, one in twenty students are more likely to consider making easy money if approached, even if it looks suspicious.
“To help keep young people safe as they head back to university, Barclays offers the following advice to avoid falling victim to this fast-growing scam
1 Being offered easy money? Be wary of job adverts offering higher than normal rates of pay for jobs, particularly stay at home jobs.
2 Do your research: look into any company offering such job opportunities and make sure their contact details are genuine. Try to stick to reputable job ad websites.
3 Talk to someone you trust: if your bank account is being used to move money, speak to someone in authority, such as a parent, family member or teacher; particularly if you are being pressured into accepting money into your account.
4 Don’t accept money into your account if you don’t know where it’s come from, and don’t forward it on. Contact your bank immediately for help.
5 Don’t share your bank details or any personal details including your mobile number with someone you don’t know.
6 Warning to parents: be aware of children talking about a new job working from home and earning more money than their friends, or look out for new expensive items that they’ve purchased.
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“Visit moneymules.co.uk for more information. You can also keep up to date with all the latest scams at https://barclays.co.uk/fraud.
“You can find more information on the various types of online and offline fraud, including money mule fraud, via Barclays Life Skills.”
