Crime Stoppers Australia has launched a nationwide campaign aimed at preventing Australians from being recruited as money mules, warning that organised crime groups are increasingly using fake job offers, social media and online messaging platforms to lure people into laundering illicit money.
Backed by $2.55 million in Commonwealth Government funding, the campaign brings together the Department of Home Affairs, AUSTRAC, law enforcement agencies and industry partners in an effort to curb money laundering and disrupt organised crime.
The campaign follows industry reporting that Australia’s major banks closed almost 13,000 suspected money mule accounts during the 2023 to 2024 financial year, highlighting the scale of the issue.
Money mules are people who transfer or receive money on behalf of others, often without fully understanding they are helping to conceal the proceeds of crimes such as cyber fraud, drug trafficking, scams and human exploitation. Authorities say organised crime groups often disguise recruitment as legitimate employment opportunities or requests for financial assistance, offering quick payments for moving money through bank accounts or cryptocurrency platforms.
Crime Stoppers Australia Deputy Chair Stella Smith said many people only realised they had become involved in criminal activity after it was too late.
“Often people don’t spot the warning signs that they’re being recruited into criminal activity until after the damage has been done. What starts as a simple job offer, a friendly request to help move money, or a promise of easy income can quickly become a pathway into serious criminal offending,” she said.
She said criminal groups deliberately targeted people looking for work, extra income or those who believed they were helping someone they trusted.
“This campaign is about helping people recognise those warning signs before they become victims of exploitation.”
The initiative will be rolled out across every state and territory through advertising, multilingual information resources, community outreach and partnerships with universities, employers, student accommodation providers, migration agents and community organisations.
Crime Stoppers said international students and temporary visa holders are among those frequently approached by recruiters because they may be unfamiliar with Australia’s financial and legal systems or be seeking employment while studying.
Ms Smith stressed that most international students come to Australia to study and build their careers, but said organised crime groups often sought to exploit financial pressures or limited knowledge of local regulations.
She warned that those caught acting as money mules could face criminal charges, frozen bank accounts, financial losses, identity theft and, for temporary visa holders, possible visa cancellation or refusal.
The campaign encourages people to be cautious of unsolicited job offers promising easy money, requests to use personal bank accounts to move funds, or opportunities that involve transferring money on behalf of others.
Australian authorities have stepped up efforts in recent years to tackle financial crime, with banks and regulators increasing monitoring of suspicious transactions and public awareness campaigns aimed at preventing fraud and money laundering. Officials say community awareness remains an important part of reducing the opportunities available to organised crime networks.
Crime Stoppers is encouraging anyone who suspects they have been approached by money mule recruiters or has information about suspected money laundering activity to report it anonymously through its reporting channels.
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