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Millions of people are affected by money transfer scams each year. Learn what to look out for so you can keep your money safe.
The most common money transfer scams always include at least one of the following:
Scam | What to watch out for | What to do |
---|---|---|
"Accidental" money transfer | Someone "accidentally" sending you money on Venmo, Cash App, Zelle and similar apps | Do not send the money back, ask the sender to cancel the transaction |
Online purchases | Asking for money up front | Do not pay up front, ask to meet or arrange escrow |
Lottery and sweeps | Must pay a fee to receive your prize | Ignore it; it’s not a real prize |
“Get out of jail” | A person claiming to be a loved one asks you to wire bail money | Never send a money transfer until you can verify you know the recipient |
“Guaranteed” loans | Request to pay for your application or taxes before you receive the loan | Rip it up; do not send the money |
Phishing | Asking for personal details over email (bank accounts, passwords, SSN) | Do not reply or click any link; forward the email to spam@uce.gov |
Bogus checks | Receiving a check payment with a request to wire the difference back to the sender | Take it to your bank to verify if its real or fake |
Mystery shopper | You’re sent a check along with your welcome letter and told to send a money order back | Don’t cash the money order; ignore this offer |
Charity | Donation requests from a fake charity posing as real one | Never wire money when donating to charity, regardless of its legitimacy |
Nigerian dignitary | Someone contacts you to help recover a large sum of money, and need your bank account info to help pay fees | Never provide financial information over email |
“Stranded traveler” | A loved one claims to be in trouble, and they are asking for you to send cash | Never send a money transfer until you can verify you know the recipient |
Online dating | Getting to know someone online and after you feel a connection, they ask you to wire money | Never send money to someone you have not met in person |
You receive a transfer on Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay or a similar service from someone you don't know. The amount of this transfer may vary, but will probably be a few hundred dollars. You'll receive a message after the transfer claiming that it was sent on accident, and the sender will ask you to send the money back. You want to do the right thing so you refund them the "accidental" transfer amount, only to realize later you never received a transfer from them to begin with and now you've lost a few hundred dollars or more.
Do not refund them the amount. Chances are the original transfer they sent you was paid for with a stolen credit card and it will be cancelled on its own. Instead, ask the user who "accidentally" sent you money to cancel the transaction on their end, or request that they contact the platform directly for assistance.
You've found your dream apartment but are requested to transfer the first month's rent up front. Or a timeshare, but there are taxes you need to take care of with a money order first. Maybe your search for a car has paid off with an unbelievable deal, but there are application fees you need to cover with a money transfer. While many online retailers are legitimate, scammers leverage the anonymity of the Internet to rip you off. That includes asking for money before you've even gotten the merchandise. Before you know it, they're gone — along with your money.
Be wary of anybody online who tells you there's upfront deposits or payments — especially if you haven't yet met them and there's no contract. And if anybody online says you can only pay with a money transfer or money order, find another retailer. Or ask to meet in person.
What luck! You've received a letter that you've scored a prize. Or maybe you're contacted about a lottery you've won. It's a lot of money, and there's only one catch: you first need to pay a fee or cover taxes to receive it. It's such a small amount, about $1,000. Surely that's worth receiving what you're due.
You should never have to pay upfront to receive a prize or lottery winnings. That alone should raise red flags. But if you're curious, research the organisation or company from which you've received your letter to see what others have to say. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
An email or phone call may come in from someone claiming to be a loved one, or from someone claiming to be an attorney or police officer on behalf of a loved one. The person requests money be wired immediately in order to post bail.
Never send money without verifying the identity of the recipient. If you're concerned you may be leaving someone in the wind, ask for the details of where they're supposedly being held then try to contact the loved one through friends, family members and contact information you had prior to the call.
You get a letter that you're guaranteed approval for a loan or credit card. There's only one last task before you can get it: send money for the application or taxes. That's easy enough, right?
You should never need to send money in order to receive an authentic credit card or loan. Instead of sending the money, research the company who sent you the letter. You'll probably see warnings from others to rip it up.
You open your computer to an email from your bank asking you to verify your account number. Or it could be from an e-retailer needing confirmation of your password. Sometimes it's a link from your email provider itself asking you to click and double-check your details. It's all so official, how could it not be legit?
Don't be tricked into giving out any personal information. Keep in mind that you will never be emailed by a legitimate bank, retailer or other service provider to confirm your personal information, financial details or password. This is called "phishing", and you should not reply or click any links in the email. Instead, report it to the ACCC and include the email or a screenshot.
Being the online seller doesn't mean you're safe from scammers. Unbelievably, they'll find a way even when the tables are turned. You may have gotten a reply to your online auction with a cheque that's for more than your item — with simple request for you to wire back the difference. The cheque is likely fake, leaving you on the hook for both the money you wire and a bounced cheque fee from your bank.
If you receive a cashier's cheque, do not cash it. Take it to your bank or the authorities for verification.
You may be contacted about a fun new gig: becoming a mystery shopper for a local retail chain. Along with your welcome letter, you're sent a money order. Only the amount is more than it should be. When you contact the number on your letter, you're told to go ahead and cash it, and then simply send a money order for the overage. Better yet, send a wire transfer to make it you refund the company more quickly.
You've likely recognized this for what it is: just another variation of the bogus check scam. Do not cash the money order. And lose the number for this bogus company, instead of losing your hard-earned cash.
Disasters bring out the best in people. But they can also unearth con artists who prey on the altruistic. Be cautious of letters requesting donations in cash or by money transfer to cover the cost of aid.
Research the charity online through the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC), which has the credentials of all genuine charities. Because some scammers use names that closely resemble well-known, reputable organisations, Google the exact name shown in your email or letter. And never transfer money to anybody claiming to be a charity. It's best to pay by cheque or credit card.
Although it's the butt of many jokes, the "Nigerian prince" scam still happens often. For this scam, you're contacted by somebody requesting your help in recovering a great deal of money. They claim that if you help them by providing your banking account information or money to pay fees, you'll be rewarded with a substantial portion of the money.
This is just another variation of the advance fee scam. Never provide your financial information or send money to anybody you don't know.
This one involves an email from friends, often ones travelling abroad, who've found themselves in trouble and need money sent immediately to return home. The amount is nearly always $1,000 or more and may even appear to come from a friend's actual email address. Except it's not actually your friend who's sending it. Instead, their account has been hijacked through a phishing scam.
Be wary of any email from a friend in trouble overseas. Attempt to make contact with them or confirm their whereabouts with your social network. As with other scams, never send money without being certain you know the recipient.
Another tough one — and therefore popular among scammers — involves a bond with somebody you've met online through a dating site. Often, that person wants to immediately leave the site for a more intimate IM or text chat. They may claim to be working overseas with plans to visit soon. Over the course of some time, you're let to believe there's a strong connection. And then they ask for you to transfer some money.
By now, you know the answer: don't send money to anybody you don't know. You could ask to meet in person, even if it seems impossible — their refusal will be a clear sign that they may not be who they say they are. If you were emailed a photo, consider using a reverse photo search to see if you can confirm the name you've been given. You may discover many names attached to the photo. Again, a clear sign that you're dealing with a scammer.
How to safely make an emergency transfer to a loved one
Avoid becoming a victim of a wire transfer scam by following a few basic tenets:
Most reputable online providers will have up to date security measures in place to make sure your data and information is secure when sending an international money transfer. Many will have dedicated email addresses or customer service phone lines to receive tips on potential scams. When choosing a provider, don't be afraid to ask tough questions and compare your options to find the safest one for you.
If you suspect that you’re the victim of a money transfer scam:
Many online seller websites like eBay have their own protocol for reporting and dealing with scammers. If you’ve transferred money, you can also alert your money transfer company of your situation so they can be ready for any future complaints. While it’s tough to admit that you might have been the victim of somebody’s wrongdoing, try not to be too hard on yourself. Money transfer scams are on the rise because these cons are constantly evolving. By reporting it and talking openly about your experience, you’re helping others to recognise and put a stop to them.
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