Money Mule

A person — sometimes a willing accomplice, often a victim themselves — used to move stolen funds through their own bank or exchange account to obscure the origin. In crypto scams, mules typically receive 'investment returns' or 'sales proceeds' into their accounts and forward them on, taking a small cut. Even unwitting mules face criminal liability in most jurisdictions because banks and prosecutors look at the account holder, not the beneficial owner. Any request to receive money on someone else's behalf — regardless of how plausible the cover story — is the textbook recruitment pattern.