Online scam targets job hunters

The Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) has issued a warning to people looking for jobs online that they could become 'money mules' for cybercriminals.

Criminals are using legitimate online recruitment sites to trick people into thinking they've got a job.

The job actually involves them transferring small amounts of money between bank accounts for their 'employer'.

Victims are, as a result, laundering money for these criminals without even realising. This leaves them open to prosecution, which can see their bank accounts frozen and them having to repay the money.

This warning comes at the start of Get Safe Online week; an annual campaign run by the government and banks to warn people about internet fraud.

Tony Neate, head of GetSafeOnline.org, said: "At any given time, there are approximately 100 known mule recruitment sites targeting the UK, each of which may have around 50 active mules."

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