The correspondence highlighted numerous scams which are rising in popularity given the ongoing cost of living crisis. However, it also looked at a particular scam which could find Britons embroiled in a “serious crime”.
The bank explained fraudsters are on the hunt given many people are struggling with their finances.
Hoping to take advantage of people’s desperation, scammers are approaching individuals with an offer of “quick and easy money”.
They ask an unsuspecting person to use their account, simply to move some funds, which may seem like an innocuous action.
Barclays warned: “This may be tempting if you’re feeling short of funds.”
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The scam is essentially money laundering, and makes those who fall victim “money mules”.
While the scammer who contacted the person is the criminal, it is the unsuspecting victim who will be caught money laundering.
Money laundering is the process by which criminals move funds and property derived from crime to use it elsewhere.
Using someone else’s account helps these scammers to cover their tracks, but leaves devastation in its wake.
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Barclays has warned those who are caught being a money mule are at risk of:
- Going to prison for up to 14 years
- Bank accounts being closed
- Difficulty getting loans, phone contracts or other credit.
This can be the case even if a person did not know what they…
