We want to build trust with all of you

To maintain this trust, we always try to strengthen our consumer protection compliance efforts. Global consumer protection laws and regulations are constantly changing the world where we operate so we want to keep you always informed on fraud in order to protect yourselves as well.

Below we gathered some types of fraud you may experience to help you learn how to spot the warning signs before it’s too late.

SIM Swapping

The scammers contact the consumer / customer mobile provider, pretending to be a subscriber and claim that they have lost or damaged the SIM card. Then the provider is asked to activate a new SIM card held by the scammer. In this process, they use data collected by the consumer / customer through phishing, malware, or social media to answer security questions posed by their mobile service provider.

Once the new sim card is activated, the old one, which is in the possession of the legal subscriber, is deactivated and thus all services (calls, SMS, internet access) are received on the device in the possession of the scammer, enabling him to carry out illegal activities in ignorance of legal subscribers. (i.e. receiving calls and messages intended for them, stealing one-time passwords or security verification messages, etc.).

Advanced Fee / Prepayment

You may be asked to pay in advance fees for financial services which are never provided. Victims often send a succession of transactions for payment of various upfront fees. Common methods could include: credit card, grants, loans, inheritance, or investment.

Anti-Virus

You may be contacted by someone claiming they are from a well-known computer or software company and a virus has been detected on your computer. The victim is advised that the virus can be removed and the computer protected for a small fee with a payment by either credit card or a money transfer. In reality, there was no virus on your computer and you just lost the money they sent for the protection

Charity

You may be contacted via email or phone by someone asking for a donation to be sent by money transfer to an individual to help victims of a recent current event, such as a disaster or emergency (such as a flood or earthquake). Legitimate charity organizations will never ask for donations to be sent to an individual through a money transfer service.

Emergency

You may be led to believe that they are sending funds to assist a friend or loved one in urgent need. You send money with urgency as the victim’s natural concern for a loved one is exploited.

Employment

You respond to a job posting and you are hired for a fictitious job and sent a fake check for job related expenses. Check amount exceeds the victim’s expenses and victim sends remaining funds back using a money transfer. The check bounces and the victim is responsible for the full amount.

Extortion

Threats to life, arrest or other demands by scammers to unlawfully obtain money, property or services from a victim through coercion that they supposedly owe and threatens if they do not cooperate.

Fake Check

You may be asked to send a check as a part of a scam and told to deposit the check and use the funds for employment expenses, internet purchases, mystery shopping, etc. The check is fake (counterfeit), and you are left responsible for any funds used from the check. Remember, funds from a check deposited into an account should not be used until the check officially clears which can take weeks.

Identity Theft

Identity thieves use personal information (e.g., Social Security numbers, bank account information and credit card numbers) to pose as another individual. This may include opening a credit account, draining an existing account, filing tax returns or obtaining medical coverage.

Immigration

You may receive a call from someone claiming to be an immigration official saying there is a problem with your immigration record. Personal information and sensitive details related to your immigration status may be provided to make the story seem more legitimate. Immediate payment is demanded to fix any issues with your record and deportation or imprisonment may be threatened if payment is not made immediately by money transfer.

Internet Purchase

You send money for the purchase of item ordered online (e.g. pets, cars). Items are often advertised on Craigslist, eBay, Alibaba, etc. After the money is sent, the victim never receives the merchandise.

Lottery / Prize

You may be told that you have won a lottery, prize or sweepstakes and that money must be sent to cover the taxes or fees on the winnings. You may receive a check for part of the winnings and once the check is deposited and money is sent, the check bounces.

Mystery Shopping

The fraudster may reach you through an employment website, or you may respond to an ad about an employment opportunity to evaluate a money transfer service. The fraudster often sends the victim a check to deposit and instructs the victim to send a money transfer, keeping a portion of the check for their pay. The victim sends the money, the fraudster picks it up, and when the check bounces the victim is left responsible for the full amount.

Overpayment

The fraudster may send you a check that appears to be valid as payment for a service or product. Typically, the amount of the check exceeds what you expect to receive, and the fraudster tells you to send the excess back using a money transfer. When the check bounces, you are left responsible for the full amount.

Phishing

Communication impersonating a trustworthy entity, such as a bank or insurance company, intended to mislead you into providing personal information or passwords. A Phish is a fraudulent attempt, usually made through email (although can also be made via phone or text), to steal your personal information or propagate malicious code or software onto your computer.

Relationship

You are led to believe that they have a personal relationship with someone they met online often by social media, in an online forum or on a dating website. You are often emotionally invested, often referring to the recipient as a fiancée.

Rental Property

You send money for deposit on a rental property and never receive access to the rental property or you may also be the property owner who is sent a check from the renter and asked to send a portion of the check back using a money transfer and the check bounces.

Social Networking

If a cybercriminal gains access to your social media accounts, they also gain access to your close friends and family. Criminals and con artists can take advantage of how much personal information people share online, and then use this information to make skillful and highly targeted pitches to their friends and family, often involving requests for money.

SMS/Smishing

Beware of texts of extreme urgency, asking you to click on a link, taking you to a compromised site, or get you to unwittingly divulge some personal information that could be used against you.

Telemarketing

Telemarketing broadly covers almost any commercial transaction that involves the use of a telephone to place or receive calls between a consumer and a telemarketer or seller for the transferring of funds, such as cash-to-cash money transfers or funds loaded onto a prepaid card, as payment for goods or services offered or sold through telemarketing, often relating to a promotion for a “free” or heavily discounted vacation, prize or sweepstakes scams, or the sale of “bargain” magazines.

Get educated on Fraud

Fraud prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Your best defense is to be aware, educate yourself and use good judgment with our informative tips.

Do not become a fraud victim.

Check out these 8 things you should never do when using a money transfer.

  1. Never send money to people you haven’t met in person.
  2. Never send money to pay for fees on lottery or prize winnings.
  3. Never use a test question as an additional security measure to protect your transaction.
  4. Never provide your banking information to people or businesses you don’t know.
  5. Never send money in advance to obtain a loan or credit card.
  6. Never send money for an emergency situation without verifying that it’s a real emergency.
  7. Never send funds from a check in your account until it officially clears—which can take weeks.
  8. Never send a money transfer to an individual for online purchases. 

General Warning Signs

  • Fraudsters have many excuses why they can’t meet you in person. They list numerous reasons why they need money and always seem to be in trouble.
  • Fraudsters will tell you to send the money in the name of a friend or family member to verify you have funds or to act as an escrow until you receive the purchased goods or services.
  • Scammers claim they have been in an accident, are in the hospital and their medical bills have to be paid in full before they can leave and this accident is caused by a family member of yours.

Emails & Phishing

Passwords and IDs hold high value with cybercriminals. Sending phishing emails to a lot of random email addresses is one easy way scammers steal information from unsuspecting people. It’s probably a phishing email if:

  • The email is poorly written with misspellings and incorrect grammar, or a familiar company name is misspelled.
  • Your name isn’t in the “To” line. This email has likely been sent to thousands of people.
  • The sender’s email address is suspicious; it might have a familiar company or government organization that is misspelled.
  • The email doesn’t use your name. Any financial institution you have an account with knows your name. Email beginning with “Dear valued customer,” “To Whom It May Concern,” or even “Hello,” could signal a scam.
  • The URL is a fake. Hover over the “click here” or “take action now” link with your mouse. If you see a strange URL instead of a legitimate company website, don’t click.
  • You’re informed that there’s a security breach on your account, and if you don’t take the action recommended in the email, your account will be temporarily suspended.
  • The email asks for your personal, credit card or online account information or takes you to a website that asks for it. Legitimate companies don’t usually do that.

If you receive a suspicious email:

  • Don’t open it; delete it immediately.
  • Don’t follow any links in the email – even if it’s to “unsubscribe” from the sender – or open any files attached to it.
  • PayLink or Western Union will never send you an email asking for your ID, password or personal information. If you’re not sure whether an email is from Western Union or not, don’t open any links, click on any attachments, or provide any passwords or user IDs.

Forward the email to info@paylink.gr and then delete it.

Signs that you may be victim of SIM swapping scam

  • Social media activity that is not yours.
  • You cannot make calls or send messages. This probably means that fraudsters have turned off the SIM card and are using your phone number.
  • You have been notified of strange activity. You will know that you are a victim if your telephone provider notifies you that your SIM card or telephone number has been activated on another device.
  • You do not have access to your accounts. If your login credentials no longer work for your accounts like your bank and credit card accounts, you have probably fallen victim to fraud. Contact your bank immediately.

Some helpful tips for dealing with such cases are:

  • If you notice any issues or weird features on your mobile, contact your mobile service provider immediately to find out what happened.
  • Never reply to messages from strangers and do not provide information about your phone number or account details.
  • Do not share with other usernames/passwords/card/account numbers and especially be careful what information you share, much more with strangers, on social media.
  • Do not open links or attachments that you receive either via email or through messages from strangers. Be very cautious because often the senders-perpetrators appear to be legitimate businesses.
  • If your mobile service provider allows it, set a separate password or PIN for your communications.
  • Change passwords often.
  • Subscribe to the services of organizations that provide SMS and e-mail notifications when your transactions are performed.

Report Fraud

  1. If you think you’ve been a fraud victim be proactive—report your case here.
  2. Report your case to authorities.

These are important steps to help prevent fraud and protect others from falling victim to fraud.

Report fraud to PayLink

If you used our money transfer service and believe the transaction was fraudulent, call us immediately. Tell us what happened in order to help you in the most suitable way. Call us for free from land line on 00800 3315 3135.

If the transfer has not been paid, then we can stop the transaction and refund your money.

If your transaction has been paid and you wish to let us know about your situation, you can file a complaint at 00800 3315 3135or by using our online fraud complaint form to file a fraud report.

The reports that we receive allow us to better track scams and help others from falling victim in the future.

Useful resources

European Antifraud Office

Cyber Crime Division

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