How to spot a fake transfer or payment scam

Scammers target people who send money across borders. They use fear, hurry and trust. This guide shows common stories, the warning signs, and what to do. The same rules help with any provider.

The one rule

Stop and check before you send. A real person with a real need will wait while you check. A scammer will not.

Common scams

1. "Send money to a stranger so you can get a bigger sum." Someone promises you a prize, a gift, a loan or a job. First, you must send a fee. There is no prize. Never pay to receive money.

2. "I am in trouble. Send money now." A message claims to be from a friend or family member. They say they are hurt, stuck or in jail. They ask you to send money at once to an account they give you. Call that person on a number you already know before you send anything. Ask a question only they can answer.

3. A new love interest who needs money. A person you met online builds a close bond. Then they ask for money for a flight, a hospital bill or a business deal. They have never met you in person. Do not send money to someone you have only met online.

4. "Pay for a job or a visa in advance." A job offer or an immigration agent asks for money upfront to "secure" your place. Check any company through its official website and its official contact details, not a number in a message.

5. A fake "payment confirmation". Someone buys from you or pays your bill and sends a screenshot that says the money is on its way. They then say they paid too much and ask you to send the difference back. The first payment never arrives. Only trust your own bank app, not a screenshot.

6. A fake support agent. A message or call claims to be from a bank or a money transfer company. It asks for a code, a password or a PIN. Real staff do not ask for these. SendCowris will never ask you for your password, your PIN or a code we send you.

7. A deal on a rate, or a "sure" investment. Someone promises a rate "locked for a year" or a return with no risk. No one can guarantee what a currency will do. Walk away.

The warning signs

Look for any of these:

• You are told to act now.
• You are asked to keep it secret.
• You are asked for your password, a code or your PIN.
• You are asked to pay into a personal account you do not know.
• You are asked to pay in an unusual way, such as gift cards or crypto.
• The offer is too good.
• You never met the person.

One sign is enough to stop.

How to protect yourself when you send with SendCowris

• Check the account name. When you enter a Nigerian bank account, the app shows the account name. Make sure it is your recipient's name before you pay. See how to check a Nigerian bank account before you send.
• Pay from your own bank account. Use your own account, in your own name.
• Never share codes. Only type the codes we send you into the SendCowris app or on send.cowris.com.
• Use the app or the site yourself. Be careful with links in messages. When in doubt, open the app by hand.
• Check the transfer. Open the Transactions tab to see where your money is.
• Ask us. If something feels wrong, write to help@cowris.com before you pay.

We also check who our customers are. You verify your identity once, with a government photo ID and a selfie, before your first transfer. This does not stop every scam. It is one layer.

If you think you were scammed

Act at once. Time matters.

1. Call your bank. Tell them what happened. Ask what they can do. Ask them to watch your account.
2. Tell the provider you used. If it was SendCowris, write to help@cowris.com with your transfer code and a screenshot. If your money has not been sent yet, tell us right away.
3. Report it. Report fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and to your local police.
4. Change your passwords. Start with email and banking. Turn on any extra sign-in step your bank offers.
5. Do not pay anyone who offers to get your money back. This is a second scam.

No provider can promise to get a payment back. A payment you chose to send can be hard to reverse. That is why the check before you send matters most.

Help someone else

Scams often catch older relatives and new arrivals. Talk with them about the one rule. Share this page.

Send with checks in place

SendCowris shows you the account name, what you pay and what your recipient gets before you confirm. Take your time on that screen.

Get the SendCowris app

FAQ

What are common signs of a money transfer scam? Pressure to act fast, a request for a password or code, a promise of a guaranteed return, and a request to pay into an account you do not know.

Will SendCowris ask for my password or codes? No. We will never ask for your password, your PIN or the codes we send you, by phone, text, email or chat.

What should I do if I think I sent money to a scammer? Contact your bank at once. Report the fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and to your local police. Tell the provider you used.

Can I get my money back? It depends on how fast you act and how you paid. Contact your bank first. No provider can promise to get it back.

SendCowris is run by Cowris Technologies. Last updated 30 October 2026.