Fake transfer screenshots and advance-fee traps

A screenshot proves only that an image exists

Transfer screenshots, bank alerts and balance pages can be edited, generated or borrowed. The image may look exactly like the real app because the person used a template or a fake interface.

Open your own banking app and check the balance and transaction history. Do not rely on a link sent by the other person, and do not share your screen while checking.

Delayed transfers can be reversed

Some transfers are scheduled for a later date or can be cancelled before they settle. Even a pending transaction in your app may not mean the funds are available to use.

Wait until the money is actually cleared in your account before discussing the next step. The more the other person rushes you, the less you should move.

The advance-fee pattern

The request sounds temporary: pay a tax to release the transfer, a deposit to unlock a higher allowance, a courier fee, a legal fee or a plane ticket that will be repaid on arrival.

The first payment is usually small enough to seem reasonable. Once it is made, the sunk cost makes the next payment easier, and the scammer learns that you are willing to pay.

Do not become a money mule

Requests to receive money for someone else, transfer it onward, buy gift cards or pay orders for a commission can make you part of a money-laundering chain.

Your account may be frozen, and you may face legal consequences even if you did not know the source of the funds. Never lend your bank card, payment account or QR code to a stranger.

A four-step verification routine

1. Check your own account: Log in to your bank's official app and confirm the available balance.
2. Wait for cleared funds: A pending notification is not the same as usable money.
3. Call the official number: Use the number on the back of your card, not a number the other person gives you.
4. Refuse remote access: No screen sharing, no remote-control apps, no verification codes.

If you have already sent money

Stop all payments immediately. Save the chats, transfer records, account details and any threats. Contact your bank or payment platform to ask about stopping or recalling the transaction, then call the police.

Do not search for a 'recovery expert' online. Recovery scams target people who have already lost money and promise to retrieve it for an upfront fee.

Tell one person you trust. Shame keeps victims isolated, and isolation makes it easier for the scammer to continue.