14 DAY TRIAL // The FBI and the U.S. Secret Service warn, through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), about the risks of work-from-home schemes used by cybercriminals to trick people into serving as money mules for them.
The advisory [pdf] was published in light of an unprecedented rise in the number of cyberfraud attacks, in which U.S. residents were used as intermediaries to move stolen money out of the country.
"Consumers continue to lose money from work-from-home scams that assist cyber criminals move stolen funds.
"Worse yet, due to their deliberate or unknowing participation in the scams, these individuals may face criminal charges," the IC3 warns.
Cybercriminal gangs use a variety of methods to convince people to take part in money laundering activities.
Usually they pose as foreign companies and post fake job offers in newspapers, on specialized websites or via spam emails.
These employment opportunities are often advertised as "financial manager" positions, which involve collecting money from the company's clients and redirecting it via Western Union.
Employees are instructed to use their own bank accounts or open new ones in their name. They are then notified when money has been transferred to them.
After withdrawing the funds, they are told to keep a percentage as commission and wire the rest to people abroad, usually located in Eastern European countries.
The money is stolen from compromised corporate bank accounts belonging to companies, public institutions or non-profit organizations, who had their computers infected with malware.
The IC3 advises consumers to verify the legitimacy of the companies offering employment opportunities through the Better Business Bureau or check the IP address they use through trustedsource.org.
Checking the WHOIS information of their domain name can also prove useful. Domains belonging to respectable companies, should have its contact details in the registration information.
"Be cautious about any opportunities offering the chance to work from home with very little work or prior experience. Remember: if it looks too good to be true, it usually is," the advisory reads.
Having to buy supplies or materials before starting a work-at-home job should be treated with extreme suspicion. Such opportunities are almost always scams.
Consumers who suspect that they were tricked into participating in a scam, should contact their financial institution immediately. They should also report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).