At Payfer, the safety and security of our customers is our priority at all times. Unfortunately, the internet is not always a safe place, and as such we have a number of measures in place in order to protect you from online fraud. This is why we urge you to only ever send money online to people that you know and trust. Our business operates on trust and keeping you safe, and we want it to remain that way.

In order to help to protect our customers from online fraud we are available for support 24/7. The best way to protect yourself from online fraud is to know what to look out for. Criminals operate on the internet that could try to convince you to send them money by fabricating a story of hardship. To help to prevent you from becoming a victim of fraud we have outlined some popular online fraud scams to help you to be informed as to what to look out for. When in doubt, use common sense, and never send money to people that you do not know. Similarly, if you get contacted by someone on the internet or by the phone that you do not know, be very careful.

Some common scams to look out for include:

The tax scam

This could come in the form as a phone call from someone claiming to be from the government. They might ask for money in order to cover taxes or debts that you have not paid, and they could ask you to wire this money to them immediately and threaten court proceedings or legal action of you do not do it. This can panic people in to sending money to someone they do not know without thinking. Do not fall for this. The government would not phone you to inform you of your taxes, this is a scam. When in doubt, always double check with a contact at your local government or tax advisor what your liabilities are and when they are due to avoid confusion.

The refund scam

Someone may contact you claiming to be from a consumer protection body such as the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) and inform you on ways to get a refund, if you provide them with your bank account details in order to do so. This is a scam.

The charity scam

Following disasters or other devastating and unforeseen world everts, sadly scammers use this as an opportunity to get money from unsuspecting victims by posing as charities. If you want to offer charitable support following a natural disaster such as an earthquake or a flood, make a donation with the charity directly and do not use an online transfer service like Payfer to do this – it could be a scam.

The stranger scam

Do not send money to a stranger. Ever. If you send money to a stranger then you will not be able to get it back. We are unable to cancel transfers where the recipient will not cooperate, and if you have been involved in a scam and have sent money to a stranger then we will not be able to get it back for you.

The Lottery scam

If you get a letter or a call from someone letting you know the fantastic news that you have won the lottery or have won a prize, but you need to provide banking information or even pay some money upfront in order to receive it then be careful, this is a scam. Remember that legitimate lottery winners are never asked to provide any money up front.

The too good to be true scam

If you find something that you are looking to buy online such as a car, holiday, or any other deal that seems too good to be true then be careful: it probably is too good to be true and it is a scam. Be wary of buying anything online that asks you to make the payment online through an online transfer service such as Payfer. Legitimate online retailers and e-commerce companies have their own secure payment platforms that deal directly with banks. Do not use Payfer for retail or goods or services purchases.

The friend or family member in trouble

Someone may call you to let you know the news that unfortunately your friend or family member has run into some trouble and needs money immediately to resolve the issue. This story could be dressed up in a number of ways: they were in a car crash, they have been put in prison, they need urgent medical attention, they need money to pay for a car repair. This could be a scam. Remember, only send money to people that you know and trust and do not send money abroad to help someone unless it is something that you have arranged with them personally.

The romance scam

This is one of the most manipulative scams out there, but sadly it is very common. A criminal will pose as someone else online, start talking to you, start an online relationship with you and gain your trust, then ask you to send them money online in order to fund their travel to be able to come and meet you. Do not fall for this, it is a scam. Never send money to someone you have met online.