Financial crime, money muling & dealing as phenomena
FINANCIAL CRIME
WHAT IS IT?
Impressionable young people are lured into business ventures that appear legitimate but can turn out to be illegal. The recruiters often approach young people in environments that should be safe, such as sports clubs or other public places. Their promises of easy money, such as a monthly salary or entrepreneurship, can sound very tempting. In reality, the young people get very little or no money at all, while the real beneficiary – the criminal organisation – stays hidden.
WHY IS IT DANGEROUS?
It is not always easy to know what you should and should not get involved in. Young people can inadvertently end up lending their name to all kinds of criminal activity, which can leave them in debt, facing criminal charges and having a criminal record. It is also common for organised crime groups to demand large sums of money from young people who no longer want to be involved in their activities, which makes the criminal lifestyle difficult to leave behind.
Getting caught and convicted of financial crimes results in a criminal record and often a court order to pay damages. Having a criminal record complicates what should be simple things in a young person’s life, such as renting a flat or applying to schools. There are also careers that cannot be pursued by people who have a criminal record. The liability to pay damages can affect a young person’s finances for a long time and reduce their disposable income.
MONEY MULING
WHAT IS IT?
A money mule is someone who allows criminals to use their bank account. Organised crime groups use money mules to conceal the illegal origin of funds obtained from, for example, drug sales.
Young people are targeted because they are seen as easy prey. The recruiters often downplay the scale of the operation and the consequences of getting caught.
They also make promises of easy money. Young people are most often recruited on social media, on gaming platforms and in other online environments.
WHY IS IT DANGEROUS?
Young people who get involved in criminal activity take a big risk. Without even necessarily realising that they are being exploited, they make themselves criminally liable and can find themselves being charged with, for example, money laundering. The consequences can be varied, including several years of imprisonment. Criminal lifestyles are also often linked to violence.
DEALING
WHAT IS IT?
Dealing refers to criminal activity that starts with, for example, importing and selling snus or vapes. This can escalate to drug trafficking.
Dealing can initially feel like a harmless and easy way to make money, but the people behind the scenes are often organised criminals.
EXAMPLES
- Importing snus beyond what is needed for personal use
- Ordering vapes from abroad
- Payments and money transfers into various people’s accounts or handling a lot of cash
- Smuggling
- Selling goods online and to friends
WHY IS IT DANGEROUS?
Young people who get involved in criminal activity take a big risk. They make themselves criminally liable without even necessarily realising that they are being exploited. The consequences can be varied, including time in prison.