Police have issued a warning to Bradford residents over ‘squaring’ or money laundering.
Sometimes known as being a money mule, squaring sees a friend or someone you met online ask to put money in your bank account.
That person might have said you can keep some of the money, just for putting it into your account and then drawing or transferring it out again.
It might sound harmless and a way to make some cash, but it could actually be linked to serious crime.
Criminals who make money through nefarious means often use people to hold or move their money for them.
They will tell you that there is nothing wrong with it, even offering gifts.
There are consequences for getting involved in squaring, even if you genuinely didn’t know where the money came from.
It can impact your ability to access credit in the future - including mobile phone contracts, store cards or a mortgage – and you could even be refused a bank account.
You could get a criminal record and go to jail for up to 14 years.
If you are worried that you have been targeted, you should speak to an adult that you trust.
You should also contact your bank as soon as possible.
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