Young people lured into money muling on social media – police warn of growing trend
The Central Finland Police has detected a growing trend in which young people are recruited as money mules on Snapchat and Telegram. Since February 2026, 158 crime reports have been made relating to account muling activity.
Police warn: young people recruited as money mules on social media
Google News FI — Crime (fi) reported that the Central Finland Police's unit investigating technology-assisted crimes has detected a growing trend: young people are increasingly being attempted to be recruited as money mules on platforms such as Snapchat and Telegram, where the desired age group can be reached.
People are lured into the activity with promises of substantial returns without risk. In reality, it is a criminal activity that can result in both criminal liability and a duty to pay damages.
What do money mules do?
Money mules are used to transfer funds stolen from crime victims into the hands of criminals. The aim is to make it more difficult to trace and stop the funds. Criminals recruit individuals to provide their banking credentials or to carry out money transfers for the benefit of criminals.
Since February 2026, a total of 158 crime reports relating to account muling activity have been made to the police. Nearly 40 per cent of those suspected or otherwise involved are aged 18–29. The proportion of minors is small, but not insignificant.
Minors as direct targets
The police have detected cases in which minors are directly targeted for recruitment. Offenders seek willing minors to whom, after providing personal information and Finnish banking credentials, a virtual credit card would be created. Using the card, criminals would purchase cryptocurrency, and the minor would receive a share of the proceeds.
The activity is marketed as risk-free by claiming that the minor is not obliged to pay off the credit card debt. This is not true. Criminal liability begins from the age of 15, and the minor is liable for damages for the harm they have caused. Participation in a crime can also lead to child protection measures.
Money laundering and its consequences
If a person receives, transfers, provides or holds property or benefit obtained by crime with the purpose of concealing its illegal origin, they are guilty of money laundering. It is also possible that the money launderer will be convicted as a perpetrator of the crime from which the laundered funds originate. Wilful assistance before or during a crime can be convicted in the same way as committing the act itself.
Recruitment extends to other criminal activity
In addition to money mule recruitment, recruitment into criminal activity also includes the recruitment of individuals who make phishing calls. They are promised a percentage commission from the proceeds of the crime. Some recruiters themselves operate on a commission basis – the payment is based on how much financial benefit the recruited person manages to obtain illegally.
Police also encounter situations in which the money launderer themselves is a victim of fraud and has been made to channel other victims' funds through their own account as part of the scam.
Report suspicious activity to the police
If recruitment into criminal activity or money muling activity is detected, the matter should be reported to the police. Each police department has its own tip-off contact information, which can be found on the police's website. Suspicious activity detected online can also be reported to the police via the online tip-off service.
Source: Google News FI — Crime (fi)