"Easy cash" or a criminal record?

Someone messages you online: they'll pay money into your account, you move it on to another account, and you keep 10%. No experience needed, cash within days.

You can finally afford those concert tickets, the new trainers you've been wanting, or that video game you've had your eye on.

It's not a side hustle, it’s illegal, and it's exactly what Evie discovers in our video, right after her bank card got declined and her account was frozen. Getting involved can have serious consequences, it might seem harmless at first but it's also one of the fastest ways to end up with a criminal record.

Criminals need help moving money

Have you ever been asked to let someone else use your bank account to move money? The money is often linked to criminal activity, and moving it can make you part of a crime, even if you didn't realise that's what was happening.

It's more common than you'd think

This isn't a rare, unlucky scenario. At least 19% of people involved in this kind of activity are under 21*.  Criminals often target young people because they're more likely to come across these scams on social media, messaging apps, and online platforms.

It's not always a "job offer"

Evie's story starts with an online ad, but that's just one route in. Criminals also recruit through:

• Spam emails offering payment in exchange for your account details.
• Genuine-looking recruitment sites, where a real job ad turns out to be a front
• Messages based on your CV, if it's publicly available online
• Instant messaging and social media, often from someone you've never met face-to-face

It's not just fake job offers. Some investment and loan scams are also designed to trick people into becoming money mules.Fake investment schemes offer you money upfront to move it around, with the promise of big returns later.

Fake loan schemes offer you a cheap loan with no real credit checks, and then ask you to pay it back to a different account than the one it came from.

What’s the worst that can happen?

Getting involved can have serious consequences that may affect your future, even if you didn't realise what you were doing. You could face difficulties opening bank accounts, getting a loan, taking out a phone contract, or accessing other financial products. In some cases, it can lead to a criminal record, significant fines, and even a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

If you think it's already happened

Don't move any more money. Contact your bank straight away using the number on the back of your card. For Evie, that meant a fine rather than prison, but the earlier you flag it, the better that conversation goes. You can also report it anonymously to CrimeStoppers (Contact phone number: 0800 555 111 Relay UK: 18001 0800 555 111) or at crimestoppers-uk.org.

*Source: Cifas, the UK's fraud prevention service