Latest news with #AustralianFederalPolice
SBS Australia
11 hours ago
- Business
- SBS Australia
The $200 trick criminals use to turn some Australians into 'money mules'
Criminals are offering Australians as little as $200 to rent out their bank accounts, turning people into "money mules". The Australian Federal Police (AFP) warned this week that renting, selling or sharing your bank account details is illegal and can expose you to serious risk, even if you don't realise a crime is being committed. The AFP said in many cases, people are offered between $200 and $500, or promised a cut of the transferred funds, simply for receiving and passing on money through their personal bank accounts. That money is often funnelled through cryptocurrency platforms or withdrawn in cash to make it harder to trace. AFP detective superintendent Marie Andersson said criminals rely on everyday Australians to help move their money. "It is illegal to rent, buy or sell bank accounts, and doing so supports the criminal ecosystem," Andersson said. "Your account may be housing money derived from scams, extortion, drug trafficking and terrorism." The AFP said a 26-year-old woman was jailed in April this year as part of a money laundering syndicate which used money mules in Sydney and Melbourne to pick up and deposit cash — which was alleged to be the proceeds of criminal activity — into bank accounts. These accounts were used to launder $3.8 million in proceeds of crime, which were ultimately transferred overseas. Mule accounts a 'key tactic in a criminal's playbook' According to the Commonwealth Bank, many people who act as money mules are not aware they are doing anything wrong. Some are recruited through job scams or social media ads offering easy income, while others are approached by friends or acquaintances. Young people, students and new arrivals to Australia are often targeted. An example of a money mule scam text message. Source: Supplied / Commonwealth Bank Australian Banking Association CEO Anna Bligh said mule accounts were a key part of a scammer's business model and banks were focused on identifying, investigating and shutting them down. "Using mule accounts to hide and move stolen money around is a key tactic in a criminal's playbook," Bligh said. "I urge Australians to steer clear if you've seen an advertisement or are approached to rent or sell your bank account. There's a good chance you're being recruited to hide the profits of criminal activity." To stay safe, the AFP and banks recommend: Never sharing your bank account or login details with anyone Avoiding job offers that involve receiving and forwarding money. Reporting anything suspicious to your bank, Scamwatch or ReportCyber.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Watch: NZ man sentenced for drunken assault during Perth-Auckland flight
A New Zealand man has been sentenced for drunkenly assaulting two airline crew on a flight from Perth to Auckland. His actions resulted in the plane being diverted to Melbourne. This week, the 23-year-old was sentenced by the County Court of Victoria to six months' imprisonment, to be released immediately on a two-year good behaviour bond. He was also ordered to pay the airline $10,824 (NZ$11,834) in compensation. Australian Federal Police were called to reports of an intoxicated and disruptive passenger on 23 October, 2024. The man refused to comply with requests from two crew members and assaulted both, causing minor injuries. Police said officers boarded the plane once it landed at Melbourne Aircraft and removed the passenger, who had been restrained at the back of the aircraft. He pleaded guilty on 17 April, 2025, to two counts of assaulting crew of an aircraft. Detective Superintendent Stephen Cook said airline staff deserved to feel safe in their workplace and not be subjected to violence and aggression from passengers . "Anti-social behaviour during a flight can pose a direct threat to the safety of the aircraft, and in this instance, also inconvenience passengers onboard," he said. "The AFP works closely with the airline industry to intervene if anyone's behaviour interferes with the safety of workers or the public in or around an airport, or on flights." Officers boarded the plane once it landed at Melbourne Aircraft and removed the passenger, who had been restrained at the back of the aircraft. Photo: Supplied / Australian Federal Police Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
9 News
3 days ago
- Business
- 9 News
'Money mules' loaning bank accounts to help crooks launder millions
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here "Money mules" renting out their bank accounts are helping criminals launder millions of dollars in Australia. The Australian Federal Police and the Australian Banking Association are urging Australians to not share their banking details or loan their account out, as they step up efforts to curb this criminal activity. Money mules are people who – knowingly or unknowingly – are recruited by criminal syndicates to transfer illicit money in and out of their personal accounts to make the funds appear legitimate to authorities. People are being warned against renting or loaning out their bank accounts to potential criminals. (Nine) Money mules may also rent or sell their account for a payment. This routing of money through a legitimate Australian bank account obfuscates the flow of the dirty cash, making it difficult to track. The mules are paid anywhere from $200 to $500 for the use of their personal accounts and may receive a commission on funds received into their accounts (typically about 10 per cent). Fund transfers from legitimate bank accounts can obscure the trail of illicit money. (Getty) Criminals target potential money mules through social media, messaging or gaming platforms, chat forums, online advertisements and even in face-to-face meetings. Job and romance scams and even outright threats have been used to gain access to people's bank accounts for fund transfers. Criminal networks are also increasingly instructing money mules to move funds through cryptocurrency exchanges/ATMs (CATM) and global money transfer apps, as these platforms enable faster and more discreet transfers than traditional banking institutions. In these instances, money mules are instructed to withdraw physical cash from their account and deposit it into a CATM, where the money is sent to a digital wallet controlled by the criminal. According to Scamwatch, $141.7 million was lost to scammers via bank transfers last year. Money laundering convictions carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment in Australia. AFP Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson said money laundering was an integral part of organised crime. "It is illegal to rent, buy or sell bank accounts, and doing so supports the criminal ecosystem," Andersson said. "Your account may be housing money derived from scams, extortion, drug trafficking and terrorism." ABA Chief Executive Anna Bligh said mule accounts were a key part of a scammer's business model and banks were focused on shutting them down. "I urge Australians to steer clear if you've seen an advertisement or are approached to rent or sell your bank account," she said. "There's a good chance you're being recruited to hide the profits of criminal activity." If you are concerned your identity has been compromised, contact the national identity and cyber support service IDCARE. crime Fraud banks Australia national CONTACT US
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- The Advertiser
Has someone asked to 'rent' your bank account?
Don't let cybercriminals turn your bank account into a money mule. That's the warning from authorities who have issued a major alert to bank customers, some of whom have been taking payments of as little as $200 to share their details. Money mules are people who are knowingly or unknowingly recruited by criminal syndicates to transfer illicit money in and out of their personal accounts, making it appear legitimate. As more criminal networks seek ways to launder their ill-gotten gains, they are open to paying money mules anything from $200 to $500 to help out. But taking that "commission" can lead to serious legal consequences, like life in prison. "It is illegal to rent, buy or sell bank accounts, and doing so supports the criminal ecosystem," Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson said on Tuesday. "Your account may be housing money derived from scams, extortion, drug trafficking and terrorism." The warning comes after a 26-year-old Sydney woman was jailed for 21 months in April for renting 10 bank accounts to a Vietnamese money laundering syndicate. The syndicate used mules in Sydney and Melbourne to pick up and deposit cash through ATMs and into bank accounts. This mule regularly changed her clothes and wore wigs and sunglasses to conceal her identity from ATM cameras during the deposits. The 10 accounts she used laundered $3.8 million in proceeds of crime, which was transferred overseas. In 2024, around $142 million was lost to scammers through bank transfers in Australia, according to Scamwatch. Criminals target mules through social media, messaging or gaming platforms, online advertisements and chat forums. Common methods include employment scams, where people are promised quick and easy money for transferring funds into their bank accounts. Others are threat scams, where victims are threatened with criminal charges and arrest unless they transfer funds. There are also romance scams, where the criminals build an online relationship with a person before asking for personal bank account details or to transfer money Money mules are increasingly being asked to move funds through cryptocurrency and global money transfer apps, which can be faster and more discreet. "Renting or selling your bank account may seem harmless, but you may be unwittingly helping a scammer to rip off a family member or someone else you know," Australian Banking Association CEO Anna Bligh said. "Don't let criminals cash in on your bank account." Money laundering is a serious criminal offence with charges carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Don't let cybercriminals turn your bank account into a money mule. That's the warning from authorities who have issued a major alert to bank customers, some of whom have been taking payments of as little as $200 to share their details. Money mules are people who are knowingly or unknowingly recruited by criminal syndicates to transfer illicit money in and out of their personal accounts, making it appear legitimate. As more criminal networks seek ways to launder their ill-gotten gains, they are open to paying money mules anything from $200 to $500 to help out. But taking that "commission" can lead to serious legal consequences, like life in prison. "It is illegal to rent, buy or sell bank accounts, and doing so supports the criminal ecosystem," Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson said on Tuesday. "Your account may be housing money derived from scams, extortion, drug trafficking and terrorism." The warning comes after a 26-year-old Sydney woman was jailed for 21 months in April for renting 10 bank accounts to a Vietnamese money laundering syndicate. The syndicate used mules in Sydney and Melbourne to pick up and deposit cash through ATMs and into bank accounts. This mule regularly changed her clothes and wore wigs and sunglasses to conceal her identity from ATM cameras during the deposits. The 10 accounts she used laundered $3.8 million in proceeds of crime, which was transferred overseas. In 2024, around $142 million was lost to scammers through bank transfers in Australia, according to Scamwatch. Criminals target mules through social media, messaging or gaming platforms, online advertisements and chat forums. Common methods include employment scams, where people are promised quick and easy money for transferring funds into their bank accounts. Others are threat scams, where victims are threatened with criminal charges and arrest unless they transfer funds. There are also romance scams, where the criminals build an online relationship with a person before asking for personal bank account details or to transfer money Money mules are increasingly being asked to move funds through cryptocurrency and global money transfer apps, which can be faster and more discreet. "Renting or selling your bank account may seem harmless, but you may be unwittingly helping a scammer to rip off a family member or someone else you know," Australian Banking Association CEO Anna Bligh said. "Don't let criminals cash in on your bank account." Money laundering is a serious criminal offence with charges carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Don't let cybercriminals turn your bank account into a money mule. That's the warning from authorities who have issued a major alert to bank customers, some of whom have been taking payments of as little as $200 to share their details. Money mules are people who are knowingly or unknowingly recruited by criminal syndicates to transfer illicit money in and out of their personal accounts, making it appear legitimate. As more criminal networks seek ways to launder their ill-gotten gains, they are open to paying money mules anything from $200 to $500 to help out. But taking that "commission" can lead to serious legal consequences, like life in prison. "It is illegal to rent, buy or sell bank accounts, and doing so supports the criminal ecosystem," Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson said on Tuesday. "Your account may be housing money derived from scams, extortion, drug trafficking and terrorism." The warning comes after a 26-year-old Sydney woman was jailed for 21 months in April for renting 10 bank accounts to a Vietnamese money laundering syndicate. The syndicate used mules in Sydney and Melbourne to pick up and deposit cash through ATMs and into bank accounts. This mule regularly changed her clothes and wore wigs and sunglasses to conceal her identity from ATM cameras during the deposits. The 10 accounts she used laundered $3.8 million in proceeds of crime, which was transferred overseas. In 2024, around $142 million was lost to scammers through bank transfers in Australia, according to Scamwatch. Criminals target mules through social media, messaging or gaming platforms, online advertisements and chat forums. Common methods include employment scams, where people are promised quick and easy money for transferring funds into their bank accounts. Others are threat scams, where victims are threatened with criminal charges and arrest unless they transfer funds. There are also romance scams, where the criminals build an online relationship with a person before asking for personal bank account details or to transfer money Money mules are increasingly being asked to move funds through cryptocurrency and global money transfer apps, which can be faster and more discreet. "Renting or selling your bank account may seem harmless, but you may be unwittingly helping a scammer to rip off a family member or someone else you know," Australian Banking Association CEO Anna Bligh said. "Don't let criminals cash in on your bank account." Money laundering is a serious criminal offence with charges carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Don't let cybercriminals turn your bank account into a money mule. That's the warning from authorities who have issued a major alert to bank customers, some of whom have been taking payments of as little as $200 to share their details. Money mules are people who are knowingly or unknowingly recruited by criminal syndicates to transfer illicit money in and out of their personal accounts, making it appear legitimate. As more criminal networks seek ways to launder their ill-gotten gains, they are open to paying money mules anything from $200 to $500 to help out. But taking that "commission" can lead to serious legal consequences, like life in prison. "It is illegal to rent, buy or sell bank accounts, and doing so supports the criminal ecosystem," Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson said on Tuesday. "Your account may be housing money derived from scams, extortion, drug trafficking and terrorism." The warning comes after a 26-year-old Sydney woman was jailed for 21 months in April for renting 10 bank accounts to a Vietnamese money laundering syndicate. The syndicate used mules in Sydney and Melbourne to pick up and deposit cash through ATMs and into bank accounts. This mule regularly changed her clothes and wore wigs and sunglasses to conceal her identity from ATM cameras during the deposits. The 10 accounts she used laundered $3.8 million in proceeds of crime, which was transferred overseas. In 2024, around $142 million was lost to scammers through bank transfers in Australia, according to Scamwatch. Criminals target mules through social media, messaging or gaming platforms, online advertisements and chat forums. Common methods include employment scams, where people are promised quick and easy money for transferring funds into their bank accounts. Others are threat scams, where victims are threatened with criminal charges and arrest unless they transfer funds. There are also romance scams, where the criminals build an online relationship with a person before asking for personal bank account details or to transfer money Money mules are increasingly being asked to move funds through cryptocurrency and global money transfer apps, which can be faster and more discreet. "Renting or selling your bank account may seem harmless, but you may be unwittingly helping a scammer to rip off a family member or someone else you know," Australian Banking Association CEO Anna Bligh said. "Don't let criminals cash in on your bank account." Money laundering is a serious criminal offence with charges carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
The Age
3 days ago
- Business
- The Age
WA news LIVE: Perth Airport luggage cash haul ‘uncovers $7m in unexplained wealth'
Latest posts Latest posts 9.36am Perth Airport luggage cash haul 'uncovers $7m in unexplained wealth' The Australian Federal Police claim to have uncovered a multi-million dollar money laundering scheme after a woman was stopped at Perth Airport trying to leave the state with $190,000 cash in her luggage. Australian Border Force officers spotted the bundles of cash during a screening of the 65–year-old's bag. She allegedly told officials it was her savings, however during an investigation into the origins of the cash, it was identified that the woman's son and daughter-in-law had purchased six properties in WA in the past six years, worth a total of $4.5 million – none of which were mortgaged. They also owned a $2 million property in Gnangara. Police allege the couple failed to declare their true earnings and restrained the seven properties and the airport cash due to being suspected proceeds of crime. AFP Western Command acting Superintendent Chris Colley said people who could not explain their wealth and assets would be held to account. 9.36am Across the nation and around the world Here's what's making news across the nation and around the world: Ozzy Osbourne, the gloomy, demon-invoking lead singer of the pioneering band Black Sabbath who became the throaty, growling voice of heavy metal, has died, just weeks after his farewell show. He was 76. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing one of his first major policy tests after his re-election as big firms, led by Andrew Forrest's Fortescue, demand a 75 per cent cut to Australia's emissions, and the government's hand-picked climate adviser prepares to tell the government what its 2035 target should be. A teenage boy has died, and another has been seriously injured in a jet-ski crash in Sydney's south, as a 'heroic' police officer is praised for diving into the Georges River to rescue the boy. The man leading Donald Trump's push to build more ships and submarines is a critic of Australia who has questioned whether Canberra can be trusted to stick with the AUKUS agreement, and whether it is ready to help the United States take on China. 9.36am Today's weather 9.36am Good morning readers, and welcome to our live news blog for Wednesday, July 23. Making headlines today a prestigious Perth private school has revealed plans for multimillion-dollar water sports facility, complete with lap lanes and a water polo pool, that is 'commensurate with the expectations of the community'. Wesley College has submitted plans for a $12.1 million revamp of its 60-year-old swimming pool – which the school says is at the 'end of its useful life' – to the Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel. Meanwhile, a Perth man has claimed the actions of a public hospital during a routine surgery led to the loss of his foot. Brett Hurley is suing South Metropolitan Health Service and his local general practitioner after he went into septic shock and lost his right leg below the knee after failing to heal properly from ankle surgery.
