Money laundering in Europe and around the world is evolving to follow (and benefit from) the latest developments in modern technologies. And so the roles of those once called ‘shoulders’ are being modernised. Scammers or mules are people who move dirty money obtained from crime from one city to another, often in different countries, so that the cash can be cleared.
The term originates from the past practice of smugglers who carried goods on their shoulders, surreptitiously crossing the borders of the countries in which they operated, or using mules. As depicted in Clint Eastwood’s film ‘The Mule’ (translated into Italian as The Courier), shoulder men are generally unsuspecting individuals who are not part of criminal gangs, do not know the workings of the organizations and do not know who is who. Gangs are their members, but they are only paid to go on trips with money or ‘hot’ food. In this way, even in case of capture, they cannot disclose details that could help the police dismantle the gangs.
But in an increasingly digital society, the role of the ‘mule’ is also changing and its purpose is now to move not just cash but money into online accounts, always with the aim of clearing them and aiding criminal organisations. Move money to different parts of the world. Europol’s latest Emma (European Money Mule Action) report shows some new trends in this practice and its scope. Law enforcement from 26 countries, in collaboration with the EU agency, Eurojust, Interpol and various private sector partners, identified 10,759 mules and 474 recruiters in the months of June, October and November 2023 alone, leading to the arrest of 1,013 people worldwide. .
The report also lists increasingly ingenious methods used and used. In one of the latest emerging methods, criminals are exploiting teenagers and providing them with online payment tools such as gift cards purchased using dirty money. These cards are then used to purchase goods or electronic devices, which are then delivered to criminals by ‘mules’, who invariably sell them on e-commerce platforms. In return, the young ‘shoulders’ receive a portion of the income in cash or goods.
In some cases, refugees from Ukraine are being exploited and turned into unwitting accomplices, according to Europol. Criminals take advantage of their vulnerability and economic distress, threatening them and forcing them to inadvertently launder dirty money, forcing them to open bank accounts in their names, which they then use for illegal activities.
It seems that ‘mules’ often don’t even realize their role and are literally ripped off. This is especially true for elderly people who are persuaded to open accounts by fake bank officials. In reality, criminals steal their identities, give them copies of documents, and ask them to sign documents that are not what they were told they were. These unknowing ‘helpers’ thus find themselves in possession of bank accounts that they do not even know exist and on which dirty money movements take place.
Another worrying trend is the fraudulent use of artificial intelligence to create fake identities, allowing you to bypass security features when creating an online account. Europol’s investigations have uncovered a number of sophisticated fraud schemes, including investment scams, compromised business emails, fake holiday rental ads, broker scams, phishing, messaging app fraud, email scams and e-mail scams. Values transferred from virtual currency exchanges to electronic wallets.
Continue reading at Europa.Today.it
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
