Who is a dropper and how can you avoid becoming one?
Droppers, or mules, are people who participate in cashing out money stolen by fraudsters. Criminals use them to cover their tracks: asking them to transfer a certain amount from one card to another, withdraw cash and hand it over to a courier, or deposit the money into someone else's account for a fee.
Sometimes people become droppers deliberately, looking for a quick and easy buck. However, they forget that in this moment, they become accomplices to a crime. It's also not uncommon for people to provide services to fraudsters without even realizing it. And unfortunately, ignorance does not absolve them from liability.
Droppers face criminal penalties, and they are also included in a special Central Bank database. Starting July 25, 2024, credit institutions will restrict their access to accounts and cards.
All banks have access to the regulator's database, so remote transactions on dropper accounts will be unavailable at all credit institutions.
Who becomes a dropper?
Those at risk are people who need money and, for one reason or another, are unable to earn it. These include schoolchildren, teenagers, and students, especially. After all, a card can be opened as early as 14 years old, which is what criminals exploit to lure young people into illegal activities.
Most often, criminals seek accomplices through social media, instant messaging apps, and message boards:
— They offer to register a bank card and, for a fee, transfer it or its details to others.
— They seek access to a person's online banking.
— They transfer money to a card or mobile phone, allegedly by mistake, and then ask for the transferred amount to be returned to another account.
— They offer to become the administrator of a contest or lottery on social media, whose job it will be to transfer the "winnings."
How to avoid becoming a dropper yourself and help your loved ones avoid getting caught up in a shady situation:
— Remember that there's no such thing as quick and easy money. If the job posting doesn't explain what exactly they'll be doing, doesn't require experience, and contains phrases like "Minimal effort!", "Daily payments," or "Unlimited income," these are red flags.
— Return any "accidental" transfers from strangers only through your bank.
— Protect your personal and financial information: don't leave your card details on dubious websites or in profiles, don't click suspicious links, and don't share codes from SMS messages with anyone.
— If you have teenagers or younger siblings, warn them about droppers. Explain that if they're offered income that involves sharing personal and financial information, they should take a break and contact their parents, teachers, or the police.
Scammers can be very persistent and resort to blackmail to achieve their goals. At this point, it's important not to give in to persuasion or intimidation, not to withdraw into yourself, but to talk to an adult.
If your teenager wants to earn money, discuss possible options with them and help them find a part-time job.