Police warn: young people being recruited as money mules on Snapchat and Telegram
Central Finland police are warning of the recruitment of young people into money laundering. Since February 2026, 158 criminal reports have been recorded, with nearly 40% involving 18–29-year-olds.
Young people recruited as money mules on social media
Google News FI — Crime (fi) has reported on a worrying phenomenon: young people are being increasingly lured into money laundering through Snapchat and Telegram.
The cybercrime investigation unit of the Central Finland Police Department has paid particular attention to the recruitment of money mules. Since February 2026, police have recorded a total of 158 criminal reports relating to the use of account mules in money laundering. Nearly 40 per cent of the suspected or involved parties are aged 18–29 — minors are also involved.
Criminals promise easy money without risks. Young people are asked either to surrender their banking credentials for use by criminals or to carry out money transfers themselves on their behalf. Money mules are used to transfer funds obtained from victims into the hands of criminals, making it more difficult for the money to be traced and recovered.
Criminals are also seeking individuals who would make phishing calls to victims — in exchange, they are promised a commission share of the proceeds of the crimes. According to police, a person recruited as a money launderer can themselves be a victim of fraud.
Minors are also being lured into creating a virtual credit card. The young person is asked to surrender their personal information and banking credentials to create the card, after which criminals use it to purchase cryptocurrency. The recruiter claims that the minor is not obliged to pay the credit card company's debt — this is not true.
A person guilty of money laundering can face both criminal and civil liability. Criminal liability begins at age 15, and a minor who commits a crime while under age can also be referred to child protection services. The money launderer can additionally be sentenced for aiding and abetting the crime from which the laundered funds were originally obtained.
Source: Google News FI — Crime (fi)