To feel a bit wary about this?

[YesIamYourSisterInLaw]

I am friends with an absolutely lovely Syrian couple who I met a few months ago. The man is an international student who is over on a funded course but with the crisis in Syria money has been on a bit of a stand still
Anyway after a long time of them living on savings his funding has been given to his family, who are over in Syria.
They have asked if a family member in Lebanon can send the money to my account and then I give it to them as apparently the eu have been blocking some money transfers from people that are Syrian.
I like these people but the cynic in me is nervous, can anyone tell me why this could go very wrong or should I just calm down?

My gut feeling says don't do it.

Isn't there another way? Western Union, Paypal...?

Isn't that money laundering?

the family member can send the money to their own account... help them sort that out, but dont let them use your account..

Honestly? I wouldn't go there with soneone else's barge pole. Apart from all the obvious red flags, how would you adequately respond to any questions from the bank (at the beginning, the bank, later on, who knows?) re money laundering?

Absolutely not, I would not do it in a million years.

What is money laundering? Can someone just give me an overview so I can explain to them? I'm happy to help them any way I can just not if it puts me in a position.

And I'd possibly be re evaluating this 'friendship' with the' lovely' people.

The EU blocking money transfers because of nationality? Really?

Why can't your friend open a new bank account here and his family member can transfer to this new account?

I wouldn't do it.

Sounds like that scam where someone pays in a chq, you withdraw cash, then the chq bounces. How well do you know them?

You don't need to explain yourself, all I'd say is "sorry but I'm not comfortable doing that." End of.

It's when 'bad' money is channelled to an innocent looking source in order to cover up the origins of the money.

I can't see anything on the internet about the EU blocking transfers. Sounds like a likely story.

Clearly money laundering. Sorry.

Absolutely no way, as others have said this is basically money laundering and you could get I to big trouble if the money source is dodgy.

One sleep is it not possible that they just don't know much about banks coming from a country that doesn't depend on them the way we do and are genuinely just a bit clueless and wanting a way to get the money from their government to pay for their education.
I'm not going to do it, my gut told me that immediately but I don't think it's fair to start air quoting the fact thyre lovely

Agree. Money laundering. Leave it alone. Sorry.

I'll tell them no tomorrow, their reaction after that will determine whether or not it was bad I guess. Thanks everyone.

The answer is no. Not up for discussion. Nothing mire to say. You've given your answer if they ask why.

I think the reason they've given you is just not true and they are for some reason trying to cover up the origin of the money by sending it via a third party (you). Definitely say no.