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By Janet Alvarez, CNBC
Money laundering (also known as "money mule")
scams have been around for a long time, but have been gaining in
frequency during the Covid-19 pandemic. That's because many of us are
quarantined at home, spending more time online, where many of these
scammers prey.
Three of the most-popular money mule scams involve
online love interests, work-from-home jobs, or lottery or prize
winnings. Consider any offers or invitations to send or receive money in
these scenarios suspect until thoroughly vetted. Any of these scams can
result in you inadvertently laundering or passing on stolen money – and
possibly facing financial or legal consequences.
Scam #1: The foreign lover
You meet someone online who lives at a distance
(maybe even another country), but they seem wonderful, and the two of
you hit it off really quickly. Soon, this person starts asking you to
wire them money, or receive money in your bank account or by wire
transfer. They may even ask you to send money elsewhere. The excuses or
reasons they give you for needing money may sound reasonable – such as
needing money for plane travel, visas, or medical expenses. These aren't
real, however, and you soon start suspecting so.
Stop communicating with the person immediately. This is a tell-tale sign
of a money mule scam. You should report it immediately to your bank,
wire transfer company, or your state attorney general's office,
otherwise, you might find yourself inadvertently embroiled in a
financial crime. You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
Scam #2: The fake shipping scam
You respond to an online job ad offering an easy job of re-packing or forwarding packages.
You are asked to pay the postage or forwarding fees out-of-pocket,
while the company then provides you with a fake "reimbursement" or
"earnings" check. You've just gotten stiffed, may face overdraft or bank
fines, and worse, may even inadvertently be forwarding illicit
materials.
Thoroughly vet any job offers by investigating the
company online, or with the Better Business Bureau. If you suspect
you're being targeted by a scam, report it to the Department of Justice Financial Crimes Task Force.
Scam #3: Prize or lottery winnings
You're informed out of nowhere that you've won a prize or foreign lottery.
All you have to do is wire money to "insure" the prize, improve your
odds of winning a sweepstakes, or pay "shipping & handling fees."
You may be asked for your bank account or credit card information. Don't
do it. This is a classic scam, and one that's been growing in
popularity in recent years.
First, it's illegal to participate in
foreign lotteries. Second, legitimate lotteries or sweepstakes don't
request your personal financial information. Finally, if it sounds too
good to be true, it probably is.
Other scams
Though the three listed above are the most
common, there are a plethora of scams to be alert to, including charity
scams, online job scams, and many others. The key is to recognize the
telltale signs, in which scammers ask you for money, request that you
receive or send wires or bank transfers, or ask for your financial
information. And when in doubt, remember to contact the FTC, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or your state attorney general's office. Stay alert, and you'll never be an easy target.
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