Phrase guide

credit mule

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 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.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From credit + mule.