Teenagers as young as 15 are acting as money mules for organised crime gangs.
Gardaí have identified 700 young people acting as money mules in the last year.
The average age is 19, while the average sum transferred is €6,000.
'Money muling' involves organised crime gangs targeting young people on social media and in school or college.
The convince them to hand over their bank details, with promises of a cut of the profits.
Funds are then lodged to be withdrawn or transferred abroad.
The money mule, however, may not realise their account is being used for criminal activity.
In just one ongoing garda investigation, 32 money mules have been arrested - including a 15-year-old girl.
Detective Superintendent Mick Cryan says young people who act as money mules risk ruining their lives.
He said some young people might believe it's harmless or that nothing's going to happen, but warned that is not the case.
He explained: "What's going to happen if you're arrested is potentially a conviction under the Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Act.
"Your home will be searched by gardaí. Remember: it's your picture on the CCTV, or your account that the money came into."
He said that people could potentially be placed on terrorism watchlists.
If they have a criminal record, they could also find it "very, very difficult" to get a visa to work or travel abroad.
Det Supt Cryan added that convicted people's credit ratings would also be hit - impacting their ability to sign up for everything from a mortgage to a phone contract.
