Sending Money Home From Abroad: Avoiding Scams
Remittances support families worldwide, and attract scammers. How to choose a licensed transfer service, verify who you are paying, compare fees and avoid common remittance scams.
Millions of people send money to family in other countries every month. It is a lifeline for school fees, healthcare and building projects. Scammers target both ends: senders abroad and families waiting at home.
Choosing a service
- Use licensed or registered services, checked with your regulator.
- Download apps from official stores only. See fake financial apps.
- Compare total cost: fees plus the exchange rate margin.
- Avoid unlicensed street or social media agents. See fake transfer agents.
Verifying the recipient
- Save your relatives' details from a verified conversation.
- Confirm any new or changed account by phone call on a known number.
- Check the recipient name shown before confirming. See checking recipients.
Common remittance scams
- Relatives impersonated with new numbers. See family impersonation.
- Building projects that do not progress. See diaspora project fraud.
- Pickup scams involving strangers. See pickup scams.
Never send money to someone you have only met online, however strong the connection. See sending money to online contacts.
Related: diaspora scams. For more, see our guide to financial scams.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know a money transfer service is legitimate?
Check it is licensed or registered with the financial regulator where you live, and use its official app or website.
What if a relative asks me to send money to a different account?
Call them on their usual number to confirm before sending. Changed details are a common scam.
Is it safe to use informal transfer agents?
Unlicensed agents offer no protection if money goes missing and may be linked to fraud or money laundering.
Sources
- What To Know Before You Wire Money, US Federal Trade Commission
- Mobile Payment Apps: How To Avoid a Scam When You Use One, US Federal Trade Commission
- Financial Services Register, UK Financial Conduct Authority
