Social media tricks turn young people into ‘money mules’

WHATSAPP fraudsters are targeting “naive” young people and turning them into so-called “money mules”.

Data compiled by Cifas – a not-forprofit fraud prevention body – from the National Fraud Database suggests in there has been a “sharp rise” in the number of 18- to 24-year-olds tricked into using their bank accounts to transfer the proceeds of crime.

There were 8,652 cases of “misuse of facility” between January and the end of September last year, a 75 per cent rise on the same period in 2016.

Sandra Peaston, the Cifas assistant director, said social media was increasingly used by fraudsters to convert young people into accidental money launderers with fake moneymaking schemes or even fake job offers.