Criminals use fake jobs, text messages and social media to recruit people to receive or transfer money through their bank accounts. What seems like easy money could put your finances, identity and future at risk.
If you are an international student, the consequences can be particularly severe. In addition to criminal charges and financial loss, you may face frozen bank accounts, identity theft, visa cancellation or refusal, and long-term impacts on your ability to study, work or remain in Australia.
•
Almost 13,000 suspected money mule accounts
were shut down by Australia’s major banks in 2023–24.
•
Criminals are increasingly targeting people in Australia with fake job offers and easy money
schemes.
Quick
or easy money
High
pay for little work
Flexible work with no experience required
Fast payments
A job that sounds
too good to be true
Be cautious
if someone asks you to:
Receive money into your bank account
Transfer money to another
person
Open a bank account
for someone else
Share your banking details
Share
online banking access
Provide identity
documents
If someone wants to use your bank account to receive or move money, stop and think.
How criminals target
people• Social media
• Messaging apps
•
Job
websites
• Online marketplaces
•
Community groups
• Student
networks
• Friends
or acquaintances
• Easy
money
•
Flexible work
• Fast
payments
•
No
experience required
X Share your bank account details
X Share online banking access
X Allow someone else to use your account
X Transfer money for people you do not know
X Share identity documents without checking who is requesting them
✓ Check job offers carefully
✓ Research employers
independently
✓ Verify opportunities before accepting them
✓ Ask questions
if something doesn’t
feel right
✓ Trust your instincts
•
Shared bank account details
•
Shared identity documents
•
Received money from someone you do not know
•
Sent
money on behalf of another person
1. Contact
your bank
2. Stop communicating with the person involved
3.
Change your passwords and review
account security
4. Monitor
for signs of identity theft
5. Seek support
For scam reporting and recovery information
IDCARE
Free support for people affected by identity theft and scams
Help protect othersIf someone is recruiting people to receive or transfer money, advertising suspicious opportunities, or asking others to use their bank accounts, you can share information anonymously with Crime Stoppers.
You do not need proof.
1800 333 000 | www.crimestoppers.com.au
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