A NEW hard-hitting campaign which warns young people about the dangers of being used as ‘money mules’ by criminals has launched this week.

The Don’t Get Finessed campaign, aims to raise awareness about how easy it is for young people to be unknowingly used as ‘money mules’ and end up with a criminal record.

Elevate Her UK, a London-based charity supporting vulnerable teenage girls and young women from disadvantaged backgrounds, is teaming up with Barclays Bank and Snapchat to warn young people about the dangers of being financially exploited online.

Ebony King, CEO and founder of Elevate Her UK said: “Elevate Her UK is committed to using this campaign as a catalyst for change and is proud to partner with Barclays Bank and Snapchat on this campaign.

“This collaboration has allowed us to create a powerful message and extend our reach in safeguarding vulnerable young people. Our mission is to educate, protect, and find solutions to combat financial exploitation and the victimisation of young people as money mules.”

Ms King added: “By raising awareness and fostering community support, we hope to make a significant impact on the lives of vulnerable youths.”

The campaign materials will play a crucial role in youth safety awareness workshops in secondary schools across London.

Ms King’s passion comes from her own personal experience, where she lent a friend £50 but ended up with a criminal record.

According to a report in The Metro, her friend later repaid the money through a bank transfer but he had overpaid Ms King by several hundred pounds.

She called the friend, who told her it was a mistake and asked her to take the money out as cash and give it back to him.

Six months later Ms King’s home was raided by police, according to a report in ThisisMoney.

The extra money that was put into her account were actually proceeds from an online scam.

As the money was sitting in her account before it was taken out, Ms King had become a ‘money mule’ and complicit in handling laundered money.

She was convicted of concealing, converting, removing and transferring criminal property and was given a criminal record.

Her former friend has never been prosecuted.

The new campaign is being launched today to mark International Fraud Awareness Week, which runs between 12 – 18 November.

Barclays is also warning young people to be vigilant as new data reveals that cases of student money mules rose by 23 per cent last October.

According to the bank, a money mule is someone that lets criminals use their bank account to move money, a type of money laundering and often victims are either manipulated into believing a cover story, or lured by an offer of payment.

Worryingly, two in five money mules are under the age of 25, and one in five are under 21.

Additional research from the bank shows that over a quarter (29 per cent) of 18 – 21 year olds would be happy to move money around under someone else’s direction, if it meant being paid some money.

The bank also found that students might be more susceptible to becoming money mules due to the increasing cost of living, and a need for additional income.

Were they to be tricked into becoming a money mule, eight in ten (78 per cent) 18 – 21 year olds wouldn’t tell their bank, and another eight in 10 (78 per cent) wouldn’t tell their parents.

Barclays is issuing an urgent warning to young people, and their parents/guardians, of the consequences of becoming a money mule.

Almost two thirds (63 per cent) of 18 – 21 year olds don’t realise that they could potentially get a criminal record, and seven in ten (69 per cent) aren’t aware they could face difficulty getting credit or loans.

Ross Martin, Head of Digital Safety at Barclays, said: “Criminals will often set up fake profiles on social media, and make posts advertising quick cash or easy investments.

“Always be wary of people reaching out to you online with too-good-to-be-true opportunities, get-rich-quick schemes, and requests to pass money through your bank account.

“Remember, being a money mule can not only make it difficult to get credit down the line – like a student loan, phone contract, or mortgage – but you could also end up with a criminal record.”

Watch the full Don’t Get Finessed campaign here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vommRXxF5A8