money mule
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A person who transfers stolen or defrauded money or merchandise from one country to another, either in person, through a courier service, or electronically.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Fraudsters known as “herders” recruit money mules, creating vast webs of linked online accounts. This enables stolen money to pass swiftly through multiple banks, often via different countries, before the criminals cash out the proceeds — making it virtually impossible to trace.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “money mule” mean?
A person who transfers stolen or defrauded money or merchandise from one country to another, either in person, through a courier service, or electronically.
Is “money mule” formal or informal?
money mule is generally slang.