Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic is an unprecedented global crisis which initially perceived as threat to public health, has severely impacted economic stability and social well-being. Shutdown of business and manufacturing industries have resulted in loss of business income, retrenchment and unemployment. Such financial crisis has gained traction from criminals, taking advantage on the desperate condition to backfill the income and fulfil business and family commitments. Criminals seek opportunity to legitimize the illicit funds earned from the unlawful activities without being visible to law enforcement. Money mules are characters recruited by the criminals and placed in the money laundering chain to receive illicit funds into their personal bank accounts and transfer the funds as instructed destinations. Criminals advertise job vacancy which includes position, income, work flexibility and requirements to qualify the shortlisting. This study examines the orchestration of money mule recruitment by criminals during covid pandemic with job packages tailored to connect with victims with financial crisis. With literature research and case study techniques employed, this study was conducted as an exploratory study on the ground covid pandemic is a new phenomenon and problems have not been specifically defined. Based on the outcome of the study, criminals have been orchestrating their money mule recruitment modus operandi by tailoring attentive job packages that corresponds to financial crisis surfaced due to covid pandemic and connects the victims undoubtfully.

Key words: Covid pandemic, Money mule recruitment, Money mule criminals, Tailored job packages