Online tool helps vulnerable youngsters avoid exploitation as money mules

Vulnerable youngsters and cybercrime

For all their advantages, digitisation and the rise of electronic payments have also introduced new security challenges. Electronic money laundering has become a serious problem in the Netherlands, just as it has elsewhere. "Saxion University has been studying cybercrime in various social groups," explains Elsa. "One thing we found was that youngsters with mild intellectual disabilities are particularly vulnerable to exploitation as money mules. Often, they don't realise that what they're doing is facilitating crime, or that they could face prosecution." The criminals use the mule's account and bank card to launder their ill-gotten gains, while keeping their own identities secret. But banks are actively following up suspect transactions all the time. So, sooner or later, a fraud prevention team is likely to come after the mule. At that point, the mule may be held liable for the scams perpetrated using their account, with victims demanding repayment. The mule may also face prosecution and wind up with a criminal record.

Experience-focused tool and information

"Very little is being done to warn young people about the risk of being exploited as money mules," says Joyce, "and the little information that is provided isn't appropriate for those with mild intellectual disabilities. So we've teamed up with Windesheim University and Mediajungle to develop an experience-focused tool, with the aim of flagging up the dangers and helping vulnerable youngsters avoid exploitation. We provide carers, teachers and parents with practical routes into talking about the subject, and we give advice on what to do if vulnerable youngsters are exposed to relevant risks. The online tool is therefore designed mainly for a young person to use together with an adult. We've been careful to keep the required attention span short, and to make the language accessible. The tool makes use of techniques such as emotion-eliciting questions and videos."

"Ultimately, the tool will be part of a platform for promoting self-sufficiency, which Mediajungle are currently developing," adds Elsa. "Various types of cybercrime will be addressed by the platform, which will offer carers, teachers and parents interactive tools and information on topical digital themes. The overarching aim is to help youngsters with mild intellectual disabilities develop coping skills and become more media-aware."

Support from SIDN Fund

"SIDN Fund's financial support has been very helpful," confirms Joyce. "It's great to have the sense that your work is really valued. At the start of the pioneering project, a series of meetings were organised, putting us in touch with other project teams working on similar themes. So we were able to make some useful contacts and extend our network. If we have a question or run into a problem, SIDN Fund are very accessible and responsive. They also guided us towards a workshop, which was really useful to us in terms of defining our target audience. It made us aware that vulnerable youngsters are unlikely to use a tool of their own accord, so we need to target the adults close to them."

Elise van Schaik, Project Coordinator at SIDN Fund: "As an organisation, we believe that everyone should be able to participate in the digital society. Youngsters with mild intellectual disabilities are vulnerable to exploitation by gangs. They're often recruited online or at school to act as money mules, with serious consequences. This project can help them avoid that kind of exploitation. So we regard it as a valuable initiative, which we're pleased to support."

Launch and extension of the tool

"First and foremost, we're focused on getting the tool online," says Elsa. "It's due to launch later this year. However, we're also thinking about the future and what we do next. For example, we're looking into the possibility of using the structure and methodology developed for the tool to address other issues, such as sexting. That impacts many young people's lives as well. Another idea for the future is making the resources adaptable, so that a resource for youngsters with mild intellectual disabilities can easily be converted for use with a mainstream audience. That would widen the scope for using our products, and enable us to promote resilience in a larger group of internet users."

Want to know more about this pioneering project? Contact Joyce te Bos by mailing j.tebos@saxion.nl.