 A criminal organization makes a living through many different types of crimes. Crimes that generate huge profits. To stay under the radar, criminals need to conceal the origin of their illicit funds. This is called money laundering. The aim is to make funds look legitimate, to leave no recognizable audit trail and distance themselves from prosecution. Money mules, knowingly or unknowingly, help launder the money by providing an innocent account to receive and transfer fraudulent funds, thereby legitimizing it. This helps criminals stay out of sight and adds several layers between themselves and the authorities. Remember, innocent or not, money mules are complicit in the crime and may face prosecution.