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Maggie’s Crazy Experience With a Bingo Gaming App

A Money Mule Short Short Story by Amy Bexley

Joseph Street Digest

Feb 28, 2023

Maggie had always been a fan of online bingo. She loved the thrill of the game, the anticipation of the next number, and the excitement of a big win. So, when she stumbled upon a new bingo app that promised cash prizes, she couldn’t resist.

As she played more and more, Maggie noticed some strange things happening on the app. Some players seemed to win far more often than they should, and the prizes seemed too good to be true. But Maggie brushed it off and kept playing, telling herself that it was just luck.

Maggie’s recent boyfriend, who turned her on to the new app, gave her promo codes for free game plays. Now she was winning more, and her boyfriend would ask her for part of the winnings for his help. “Sure.” After all, he was helping her out to win and he was a sweet guy brining her small gifts.

One day, money started appearing in Maggie’s bank account from her bingo winnings that she did not remember winning. She called the app to ask what was going on, and they said it was part of a promotional giveaway. But something about the situation felt off to Maggie - no app gives money away.

Her boyfriend said it was some sweepstakes the app was running, and there was nothing to worry about. But since she was so concerned, he will take the cash off her hands and see if he could return it since he knew some of the app developers. Maggie felt strange about the money, but again thought it was just luck. She decided to hand the cash over to her boyfriend, and the app developer sent her some more promo codes in exchange with an apology email.

Then one night the FBI busted her apartment door open looking for her and her boyfriend as part of a money laundering sting operation. It turned out money was being paid through the bingo app to money mules, and they were using Maggie as one of their mules without her knowledge.

The money she had been receiving in her bank account was part of a larger money laundering scheme that took money from criminals, passed it through money mules like Maggie and then back onto the streets for straw gun purchases. Part of the scheme was using dating apps to find the mules. She was now facing serious jail time for money laundering.

The raid didn’t turn up Maggie’s boyfriend, but her confiscated phone showed a lot of social media posts at a local cafe. The FBI cut Maggie a deal. If she could help them find her boyfriend, they would drop all the money laundering charges.

Maggie was scared, but knew she had no choice. They set the plan into motion. Maggie texted her boyfriend to meet up at the cafe, she would meet him, get him to talk, all the while the FBI recorded their conversation and waited for an opportune time to make the arrest.

But something went wrong. As Maggie sat waiting, it wasn’t her boyfriend who showed up but some other guy saying he was his friend. He was there to warn Maggie that her boyfriend had escaped across the border, and she should leave now if she wanted to stay safe. Maggie was confused, and adding to that confusion were the various commands flowing into her ear from the FBI agent.

The friend saw Maggie’s confusion and panicked. He pulled out a gun and took Maggie hostage. He noticed the earpiece the FBI gave Maggie and pulled it out her ear. The “friend” then dragged her away to the back room, and Maggie knew the money laundering charges were now the least of her worries. The FBI surrounding the place with SWAT and negotiated.

“This is Agent Torrance. If you let Maggie go, we promise things will go much easier for you.”

“No. I want a car to the airport and hundred thousand dollars cash.”

“Okay, we can do that. But you need to give us time.”

“You’ve got one hour, or this bitch dies.”

The hour dragged on, and Maggie was sure she wouldn’t make it out of this alive. The FBI snipers couldn’t get a good shot on the money launderer, and it was decided that a breach was too risky based on the shop’s layout. So, the FBI came through with a car and money instead. The money launderer got inside and drove away, leaving Maggie behind safe and sound.

The FBI would eventually kill the money launderer at the airport in a shootout, and for Maggie, she was just thankful to be alive. She had been so close to the money laundry system and didn’t even know it. She was happy it was all over and thankful for a second chance.

Maggie quit playing online bingo and using dating apps after that and instead turned her attention to other hobbies. But the memory of her brush with the law stayed with her, a constant reminder of the dangers that lurk in the online world.

#story