Omaha, Neb.- The FBI is warning of a new method of profiting from online child sexual abuse material that uses teenagers and young adults as money mules.
According to a news release, in this scheme, teens and young adults are being recruited on social media and online gaming platforms by producers of child sex abuse material posing as IT services or gaming upgrade companies.
The fake companies ask individuals to accept payments from the company’s customers through digital payment platforms. In return, the individuals can keep a percentage of the money.
They are then instructed to change the remainder of the payment into cryptocurrency and send it on to the company. What these criminals are really selling to their customers are links to child sexual abuse material.
The FBI is advising parents and caregivers to warn their teenagers and young adults in their lives about this illegal money mule scheme.
Anyone who thinks their child is participating in a money mule scheme, they should stop transferring money immediately and call FBI Omaha at 402-493-8688.
