Next-generation money mules

We need to teach young adults to protect the use of their bank account:

1. A legitimate employer will never ask to use your bank account to receive company payments

2. Beware of overseas employers making payments through your account and giving an air of legitimacy by calling you their agent

3. Exercise caution on job descriptions such as Payment Agent, Processing Agent, Transfer Manager or NZ Payment Representative

4. Job ads may appear on legitimate employment websites and involve an interview and contract. These are not filters for authenticity

5. ‘‘Work from home’’ with ‘‘no experience needed’’ should set off alarms

6. Be wary of jobs where all interactions are online and involve transferring money or goods

7. Romance-mules are those who are tricked into receiving money and forwarding it on, because they have affection for someone. This person is working abroad or in the military and struggling to transfer money for ‘‘tax’’ or a ‘‘funeral’’

8. Beware of friends asking to deposit money in your account, no matter how legitimate the reason sounds

9. Never sell your bank account

10. Watch out for situations where an ‘‘employer’’ overpays and asks for money back