Mr Narasimman Tivasiha Mani, co-founder of Impart, a non-profit organisation for youth at risk, said most of the young money mules he has counselled come from families with precarious backgrounds.
These include growing up in poverty or coming from a broken family, said Mr Narasimman, who counselled Zack, Irfan and Kezrin (not their real names), among others.
HUG Community Services founder Jeffrey Mak, who has over 10 years' experience working with at-risk youth, said he has also encountered money mules who come from well-to-do families. "They still did all these things because they were seeking attention; (they felt) nobody cared about them."
Care Singapore director Lena Teo, who has counselled young people involved in money mule offences, said that unlike other illegal activities such as being a loan shark runner, young people think they are not harming anyone by being a money mule.
"To them, it is so straightforward. I am not robbing, punching, carrying weapons, how would you say this is a crime?" she said.
Denne historien er fra August 13, 2023-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 13, 2023-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
WOUNDED ARSENAL ON RED ALERT
Calafiori hurt in Shakhtar win, as Arteta’s concerns mount ahead of Liverpool clash
HIGH KAI FLYING IN MADRID EVENT
Fresh off double win, teenage indoor skydiver hopes to emulate Maeder's model
JAMES DUO CHECK IN FOR FIRST TIME
Lakers’ LeBron, Bronny enter court in 2nd quarter to become NBA’s maiden father-son act
GAMESTONKS RIGHT AT TOP OF HIS GAME AT KL TRIALS
Ex-Kranji Pacific Snoopy also serves notice of her smart form
EL CASTELLO ALL SET FOR SPRING CHAMPION
Trainer Anthony Cummings plots Group path towards Victoria Derby for smart 3yo
'It feels like a watershed moment for AI'
Google DeepMind's Demis Hassabis on his Nobel Prize
What 'do no harm' means as temperatures soar
Medical workers are key to adapting to the realities of global warming, but they are not receiving the necessary training.
Why gold is dazzling investors
Financial fears and geopolitical tremors combine to great effect.
'Singapore on steroids;: Dubai deserves more attention
Open to the world, the most populous of the seven emirates that make up the UAE is a trendsetter in Al, fintech and digitalisation.
Ascott to expand apartment hotel business in China via joint venture
The Ascott Limited, a Singapore-headquartered hospitality company, will expand its apartment hotel business in China through a joint venture with Jin Jiang Hotels.