Dozens of Irish students facing criminal records after involvement in money mule scam

As many as 60 young people – including secondary school pupils and college students – are suspected of involvement in the scheme in Co Kerry

• Bookmark

Share

• 21:23, 31 JAN 2024

Dozens of students are facing the prospect of having criminal records – after they were lured into taking part in a multi-million euro money mules scam.

As many as 60 young people – including secondary school pupils and college students – are suspected of involvement in the scheme in Co Kerry.

They allowed criminals to access their bank accounts to launder cash and up to €1.3 million was cleaned up in the scam.

The Kerryman newspaper, which broke the story, revealed that many of the kids have already been charged.

While some of the younger offenders were dealt with under the Garda’s junior liaison scheme, which meant no criminal conviction, others were convicted under anti-terrorism and money-laundering legislation.

That means they will have records – and could impact on future employment and travel plans.

The young people were working as so-called money mules and each student allowed up to €65,000 to pass through their accounts.

As part of the scam, the students handed a crime gang based in Ireland and abroad their bank account details, and logins – effectively giving the criminals control of them.

The gang then used the accounts to send money overseas – laundering it in the process.

The children received around 10 per cent of each transaction for handing over their accounts.Gardaí have warned young people not to get involved in such scams – and not to hand over their bank account details to anyone.