Teenagers often like to have the latest gadgets and trainers, but if a young person suddenly has the ability to splash cash around, with no obvious explanation for their wealth, it could be a warning sign of money muling. Money muling happens when people are persuaded to let cash flow through their bank account in exchange for money or gifts – and young people in particular may be targeted. According to figures released by UK Finance and the fraud prevention body Cifas, young people under the age of 21 account for around one in five cases where money muling activity is suspected. While money muling may be seen as an opportunity to make some easy cash, it’s actually a criminal offence. The cash flowing through bank accounts is often the proceeds from crime. UK Finance and Cifas run a campaign called Don’t Be Fooled, which has developed free PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education) resources for schools, to help young people learn about the dangers and consequences of becoming a money mule. The new schools programme is aimed at youngsters aged 10 to 14. To find out more about the dangers of money muling – and the warning signs for parents to look out for – I asked Paul Maskall, manager of fraud and cybercrime prevention at UK Finance, for his expert insights: How can parents talk to children and teenagers about money mule activity and explain what it is? Paul says: “Even at the best of times, we aren’t always good at valuing and protecting our data, personal information or private details which we store digitally.” He says it’s important for parents to explain what money mules are, “to ensure that the newer generation have a better understanding of how to protect themselves.” He continues: “By doing so, it gives them more of an intuitive defence and understanding of the risk of people wanting to exploit them and gain access to their account, for the purposes of laundering money.” How can young people themselves avoid getting involved in money muling? Maskall stresses the importance of keeping accounts and personal information private. He says: “Criminals seek to manipulate you with a promise of gifts, rewards or a percentage of the funds sent through your account.” People should avoid opening a bank account in their name for someone else, allowing their bank account to be used to send and receive funds for other people, or sharing PINs and passcodes, he says. While criminals will often seek out younger people to become money mules, it’s also important to remember that anyone can be targeted, he adds. What are the warning signs that your child could be involved? “Tell-tale signs that your child might be involved in money muling could be them suddenly having extra cash, buying expensive new clothes or top-of-the-range mobile phones and gadgets with very little explanation as to how they got the money,” Maskall explains. “They may also become more secretive, withdrawn or appear stressed sometimes, becoming more fixated on communication and phone usage.” What are the consequences of money mule activity? Some people may see requests to pass money through their account as harmless – but they could be making a big mistake. “Criminals need money mules to launder the profits of their crimes and frequently target young people, who are often unaware of the consequences of them agreeing to do so,” says Maskall. “Allowing a bank account to be used in this way is a crime and can result in a criminal record and the account being closed. “You could go to prison for up to 14 years and it can also lead to the individual finding it difficult to obtain mobile phone contracts or access financial products and credit, including student loans.” What should parents do if they think their child or someone else they know might be involved in money muling? “It’s important for parents and guardians to remind their children of the potential approaches that they may receive from criminals,” says Maskall. He says if any parents or guardians are worried that someone they are close to might be caught up in money muling, they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Where can parents go to get support or seek further information and how can communities stay safe? Maskall says: “We encourage everyone to visit the Don’t Be Fooled website for more information on the risk of money muling and how to stop the signs. www.moneymules.co.uk. “It is important to remember that anyone can be at risk and speaking openly and educating one another about the harm and risks involved will benefit others.” Read More From tofu chicken wings to chickpea bacon – how and why you should be making plant-based meat at home Holly Willoughby channels Gwyneth Paltrow with ‘orgasm anxiety’ blog post Do it for the Gram: Speedy but spectacular goat’s cheese linguine Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

India hailed its "strategic" partnership with oil-rich Saudi Arabia on Monday, days after unveiling a major trade and transport route linking Europe, the Middle East and India...

Shohei Ohtani had a pair of RBI doubles, Brandon Drury drove in the go-ahead run with a triple in the eighth inning, and the Los Angeles Angels rallied for a 6-4 victory over the Houston Astros

By Philip Blenkinsop LULEA, Sweden Top U.S. and European Union officials meet in Sweden on Tuesday to weigh

Hong Kong canceled storm warnings and announced it would allow some schools to proceed as normal after midday,

Pep Guardiola insists he has no doubts over the quality of Cole Palmer as he looks for ways to cover for the absence of Kevin De Bruyne, who could be out for up to five months with a hamstring injury. De Bruyne is due to go under the knife in his native Belgium after pulling up early in City’s Premier League opener at Burnley last Friday, and City had to do without their talisman in Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup final against Sevilla, prevailing in a penalty shootout. Palmer started on the right wing in Athens and scored City’s equaliser just after the hour mark, following up his fine strike against Arsenal in the Community Shield, but that has not stopped speculation linking the 21-year-old academy product with a move away. As Guardiola revealed fears that De Bruyne may not return to full fitness until February, he said Palmer and others will need to provide the answers. “It’s not necessary to ask how good he is,” Guardiola said of Palmer. “You don’t need two goals in two finals to define how good he is. “Cole in the previous season arrived in an extraordinary moment, he defined the game in the FA Cup and then had injuries. He couldn’t be there. “Playing at City is not easy with Riyad (Mahrez, now departed), Bernardo (Silva) and a lot of players. “Last season our players in midfield were KDB, who will be four or five months out, (Ilkay Gundogan) who isn’t here, we have to adjust a few things. We’re not at our best, or our top, it’s normal and we adjust a few things but the spirit is there.” John Stones has been added to the injury list for Saturday’s match at home to Newcastle after sustaining a muscular injury in training, while Bernardo remains out through illness, but Guardiola expressed optimism that Ruben Dias could return after missing the Super Cup final. Following a late night in Athens on Wednesday and the journey home, Guardiola said his players would not train on Friday but instead focus on recovery with massage and sessions in the pool. “Of course we are ready,” Guardiola said. “We need these types of challenges. Everyone wants to beat us and we have difficulties for many reasons, many important injuries, the calendar. “It’s a challenge again, to see if we can make a step forward. If you want to win you need that. In football there are always problems, it’s how you overcome that defines if you’re a good team or not Pep Guardiola “In football there are always problems, it’s how you overcome that defines if you’re a good team or not… “We went to bed at 4am, arrived here late, today we cannot train – everyone in the pool, massage – we don’t have time. “We’d love one more day. We accept that this is the challenge. It’s why we won: we overcome these kind of positions. We always had less time to recover.” Guardiola has his eyes on winning the Club World Cup in December to “take all the titles” after last season’s treble and the Super Cup win, and said recent successes can inspire his players as they deal with the challenges in front of them. “The spirit is there,” he said. “I know how happy they are. Every day we arrive and see the four trophies in front of us. Wow, how nice is that? How difficult is that? We love it.” On Friday evening, De Bruyne posted a short message on social media following his surgery with a picture of him on crutches. “The news after the Burnley game was a really big blow for me physically and mentally,” the Belgian said. “Now the surgery is done I’m ready to heal my body and get back to work soon. Thank you all for the support.”

In August 2022, after greeting one of the first buses of immigrants arriving in New York City with

Here's a breakdown of the brand-new, Legendary Overwatch League Royal Knight Mercy skin.

The final member in a migrant smuggling ring that was responsible for the deaths of 39 Vietnamese immigrants who suffocated in a shipping container in 2019 has been sentenced by a London judge to seven years in prison

With the MLB trade deadline looming, these three former Braves could become available as Atlanta looks to fortify for a World Series run.The Braves have dealt with a frustrating wave of injuries this year but they're still at the top of the NL East and gunning for second World Series triump...

The Tampa Bay Rays went retro for Tuesday’s Game 1 of their AL Wild Card series and the result flashed back to the early days of the franchise

By Chris Prentice NEW YORK The head of the U.S. Justice Department's team in Washington tasked with prosecuting