App alerts & the money-mule trap

Lesson 8 of 14 in our free Banking & Payments guide: a 5-minute money game with the key points below.

Shown for England. Some rules here are different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: the lesson shows your nation's version.

This lesson is in the full version.

Free with a code from your uni, college, council, landlord or employer (worth £600/year). Lesson 1 of Banking & Payments is free for everyone.

Questions you'll answer

Mo already said yes to Ronnie and £500 just landed in his account. What now?

Red flag: “saw your profile, you look like a hard worker!” — Flattery from a stranger who messaged you first. Recruiters for scams pick you, not the other way round.
Red flag: “Earn £300 a week from your phone” — Too good to be true. Real jobs don't pay that for 'nothing'.
Red flag: “We just need to use your bank account to receive payments” — Nobody legit needs YOUR account to receive their money. That's money muling.
Red flag: “Send it on and keep 10% for yourself” — Passing money on and keeping a cut is the classic mule pattern.
Red flag: “Don't tell your bank, they won't understand” — Secrecy = scam. Anything you must hide from your bank is a no.
Notification for every card payment → Useful alert. Spot fraud fast and keep an eye on spending.
Low balance warning → Useful alert. Gives you time to fix things before you go overdrawn.
Receiving a stranger's money to 'pass on' → Hard no. That's money muling. Report it.
Sharing your banking login with a 'recruiter' → Hard no. Never share logins. Ever.
Alert when a direct debit is due → Useful alert. No more surprise bills.