credit mule

noun

A victim of fraud persuaded to use their own name and information to obtain an expensive item with credit contract attached, such as a smartphone. The victim, or "mule", is paid on giving the item to the fraudster, and is assured the contract will be cancelled, but it is not. Thus, the victim acquires a debt while the fraudster can sell the item at a large profit.

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Meanings

nouncredit mule (plural credit mules)

plural credit mules

  1. A victim of fraud persuaded to use their own name and information to obtain an expensive item with credit contract attached, such as a smartphone. The victim, or "mule", is paid on giving the item to the fraudster, and is assured the contract will be cancelled, but it is not. Thus, the victim acquires a debt while the fraudster can sell the item at a large profit.

Origin

From credit + mule.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

credit mule. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/credit%20mule

MLA

“credit mule.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/credit%20mule. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “credit mule,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/credit%20mule.

Source: credit mule on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.