West Yorkshire Police Warn Criminals Are Recruiting Students as 'Parcel Mules' on Social Media

The force is warning parents to speak to their university-age children about the gangs moving criminal property around the county. The recruitment adverts typically carry phrases such as "Work from home", "Easy money", "No experience needed" and "Earn £100-£500 per week", with cash offered to so-called parcel mules who accept the deliveries, according to a report by The Guardian.

Police say the packages may contain illegal drugs, offensive or prohibited weapons, stolen goods, counterfeit items or fraudulently purchased products, and in some cases criminal cash obtained through illegal activity.

Officers have warned that not knowing what a parcel contains may not protect the person handling it from investigation, and that depending on the contents they could face charges ranging from possession of controlled drugs or prohibited weapons to handling stolen goods or money laundering. Anyone receiving the parcels may also be charged with conspiracy offences.

The force has listed warning signs, including being offered money simply for accepting deliveries, being asked to use your address without being told why, dealing with someone who uses multiple names or addresses, or being asked to accept a parcel without being told what is inside it.

Police also advise caution when someone says "don't worry it's legal" without further explanation, when a person pressures the recipient into making a quick decision, or when they insist on collecting the parcels soon after delivery. Officers say criminals may talk victims round with lines such as "it's just because I'm not home during the day", "you're not doing anything wrong" or "nobody will ever know".

West Yorkshire police Ch Insp Michelle Swift said: "What may seem like an easy favour or a way to get quick cash could leave you facing a police investigation and a criminal record. Criminals will often use social media like SnapChat, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook to recruit people to help them. If something doesn't feel right, trust your instincts and report it to us. We hope by raising awareness of this type of crime, people will be alert to the risks and tactics used by organised criminals. We would particularly encourage parents to have this conversation with their university age children to make them understand this type of trend and the dangers that are associated with it."

Earlier this year, Lincolnshire police issued a similar warning, telling people to beware of "anyone offering money or favours for accepting deliveries", of parcels arriving addressed to unfamiliar names, and of packages arriving from overseas with no clear sender. That force said individuals and addresses were in some cases being used without their consent as part of organised fraud or delivery scams.

People who suspect they have been recruited as a parcel mule are advised to stop their involvement immediately, keep messages, emails or screenshots, and report their concerns to the police. Anyone who receives a parcel not addressed to them is advised not to open it and to contact the delivery company to arrange its return or collection.

Editor's Summary

West Yorkshire police say criminals are recruiting students and vulnerable adults through Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook to accept and forward packages containing drugs, weapons, stolen goods and cash, with payment offered for each delivery. The force warns that handling such parcels can lead to charges including drug or weapons possession, handling stolen goods and money laundering, and urges parents of university-age children to discuss the risk. Lincolnshire police issued a comparable warning earlier this year.