Britain’s obsession with true crime is at an all-time high, with series like Making a Murderer and 24 Hours in Police Custody drawing huge audiences and dominating streaming queues. But new research suggests that while students are hooked on crime stories on screen, many are missing the very real scams targeting them on their phones, in their DMs and through job ads.
A study from UK Finance and Cifas shows that around two-thirds (66%) of 18–24-year-olds consume true crime content every week, yet only one in ten say they would never agree to receive and transfer money for someone else. This is the exact method criminals use to recruit “money mules” to move illegal cash through the banking system.
Money muling happens when someone allows their bank account to be used to move money, often in exchange for a cut or a small reward. It is frequently presented as a flexible side hustle, shared via social media, messaging apps or fake job adverts that promise quick money for “processing payments” or “helping with transactions”. While it might look like an easy way to boost income during the cost-of-living crisis, it is a serious criminal offence that can lead to bank accounts being closed, access to loans being blocked, difficulties getting a job, and even prison sentences of up to 14 years.
The research reveals a significant generational divide. More than half (57%) of 55–64-year-olds and two-thirds (66%) of those aged 65 and over say they would never agree to move money for someone else, no matter the circumstances. Younger adults, however, are much more likely to take the risk. Among 18–24-year-olds, one in five (21%) say they would be prepared to transfer money as a quick and easy way to earn income, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and involvement in organised crime.
Awareness of what money muling actually is remains low. Almost half of the young people surveyed had never heard the term “money mule” before taking part in the research. Around 45% did not realise that money muling is linked to serious criminal activity such as terrorism, people trafficking, drug trafficking and fraud.
The potential consequences are also widely misunderstood. More than half of 18–24-year-olds did not know that agreeing to move money for someone else could result in prison sentences of up to 14 years (52%) or blocked bank accounts (52%). Many were also unaware that it could lead to dismissal from university or refusal of student loans (65%), long-term difficulties finding employment in the UK (56%), and even putting their family and friends at risk (59%) if criminal networks become involved.
The scale of the problem is considerable. The National Crime Agency estimates that £10 billion is laundered in the UK every year. According to Cifas’ Fraudscape 2025 report, people aged under 30 made up 61% of all money mule activity last year, showing that young adults are being heavily targeted by criminal networks who understand how they communicate and search for work online.
In response to these findings, UK Finance and Cifas have launched a new awareness campaign, “Don’t Be Fooled: True Crime”, aimed specifically at students and young adults. At the centre of the campaign is a short-form video styled as a true crime docu-drama, following a student who is drawn in by fake job offers and social media messages promising fast cash in exchange for moving funds and keeping a cut. The storyline shows how believable these offers can seem at first and how quickly they escalate into something far more serious once criminal money is involved.
Ruth Ray, Director, Fraud Policy & Operations at UK Finance, said the popularity of true crime is not matched by awareness of real-life financial crime. She said: “Britain’s love of true crime shows we’re fascinated by criminal stories, but the real danger is happening in our everyday digital lives. Criminals are targeting young people through social media, messaging apps and fake job ads, making money muling seem like ‘easy cash’. But it’s not a victimless crime. For a quick payout, people risk losing access to financial services, damaging their future job prospects, gaining a criminal record, and even putting their family and friends at risk.”
Mike Haley, CEO of Cifas, warned that many young people do not realise what they are getting involved in until it is too late. He said: “While true crime grips the nation, the real danger is unfolding off-screen. Young people are being recruited into criminal activity that’s often disguised as a quick way to make money – but many don’t realise the serious and lasting damage it can cause.”
He added that dealing with the issue needs a joint effort across multiple sectors: “Cifas members continue to see money muling as a significant threat to their organisations. Tackling it demands collaboration across sectors – from banks and tech firms to regulators and educators. Through campaigns like ‘Don’t Be Fooled’ with UK Finance, we’re working to raise awareness and protect young people before they become part of a real-life crime story.”
For students juggling living costs, part-time work and constant online offers of “easy money”, the message from the research is clear: if someone wants to use your bank account, it’s not just a side hustle – it could be a serious crime with consequences that last long after the money has disappeared.