Anti-fraud lessons for schools in England to warn pupils about money muling

Schools in England can now use new materials that teach children to spot fraud and protect themselves from financial and sexual exploitation. The Home Office announced the lessons on 4 November 2026.

What the lessons cover

The sessions are designed for children aged 10 to 18 and their parents. They explain warning signs and the methods criminals use to target teenagers. They are also meant to explain what money laundering and financial exploitation are, and who to report them to.

The lessons were developed by specialist police officers from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, working with the PSHE Association. They are government-funded. Teachers can use them in RSHE lessons (relationships, sex and health education). They sit outside the statutory curriculum, however. Schools will receive them as an addition to the new RSHE curriculum published earlier this year.

Teachers, parents and carers will also get guidance on the types of scams in use, the warning signs and where to find specialist support.

What is money muling?

Criminals offer young people seemingly legitimate jobs or quick cash. In return for a small percentage, they get them to receive money into their bank account and pass it on. In reality, this is used to hide the origin of dirty money from law enforcement.

According to the government, young people in this situation risk prosecution and having their bank accounts blocked indefinitely. They may also later struggle to get a student loan, a job or housing.

The scale of the problem

The government says 22,000 cases of money muling were reported in 2025, and one in five involved someone under 21. Fraud makes up 47% of all surveyed crime in England and Wales. More than 1 in 20 people aged 16 to 24 have been victims of fraud.

Police and safeguarding teams are also receiving more reports of "sextortion", meaning financial blackmail under the threat of releasing intimate images. The government says this is carried out by criminal groups based outside the UK.

Comments

Lord Hanson, the Minister for Fraud, said prevention is a key part of the government's Fraud Strategy. James Simmonds-Read of The Children's Society said lessons alone will not stop financial exploitation, but they help young people recognise it and know where to turn. According to the announcement, the government is investing £250 million in the fight against fraud and launching a new Online Crime Centre.

What this means for you

The materials are available to schools in England, so they may be relevant to families with children aged 10 to 18. Parents can ask their child's school whether it is using them. The announcement does not say when individual schools will introduce the lessons or whether all of them will. It describes an offer to schools rather than a requirement.