A money mule is a person who transfers or moves illegally acquired money on behalf of others, often unknowingly assisting criminals in laundering stolen funds. Cybercriminals may recruit money mules through job scams, social media, or phishing emails, sometimes using fake or stolen identities. The mule receives funds into their bank account and is instructed to transfer them elsewhere, making it harder to trace the original source. Acting as a money mule is illegal and can result in severe legal consequences, even if the individual is unaware of the criminal activity involved.