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Remittance and money transfer scams

Fake transfer apps, "better rate" agents on WhatsApp, and urgent requests from "family" abroad can drain the money you send home. Use licensed money transmitters and verify before you send.

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Siy danje

  • Someone on WhatsApp or social media offers a much better exchange rate than any company
  • A transfer "app" or website is not in the official app store or has almost no reviews
  • An "agent" wants you to send money to a personal account and promises to forward it
  • A message from a relative abroad asks for urgent money but the phone number or writing style is new
  • A charity or church collection you cannot verify asks for payment by app or crypto
  • The receipt or tracking number does not work on the company's own website

Kisa pou fè

  1. 1.Use only licensed money transmitters and check the FinCEN MSB registration list for the company name
  2. 2.Download transfer apps only from the official app store, and confirm the company's real name
  3. 3.Before sending emergency money, call the relative by voice or video on the number you already have
  4. 4.Keep every receipt and confirmation number; report unauthorized transfers to the company and the FTC

Sending money to family is one of the most meaningful things many households do. It is also a moment scammers watch closely, because they know the money is real, it moves regularly, and it goes to people you love.

How it works

There are three common versions.

The “better rate” agent. Someone in a community group or on WhatsApp says they can send money home cheaper or faster than the big companies. They ask you to send cash or an app payment to their personal account and promise to deliver pesos, quetzales, or dollars on the other end. The first small transfer may even work, to build trust. Then a larger one disappears, along with the account.

The fake app or website. A slick app promises no fees and a great rate. It is not in the official app store, or it copies the name and logo of a real company with one letter changed. You enter your card or bank details, and the “transfer” never arrives. Sometimes the app keeps charging your card afterward.

The urgent request from “family.” A message arrives from a relative abroad, or from a number claiming to be them. There is an accident, a hospital bill, a problem with the police, or a church or community emergency. They need money now, through a specific app or crypto. Scammers get these details from hacked accounts and social media, and the message can feel very personal.

Legitimate transfer companies are licensed and regulated. In the United States, every real money transmitter must register with FinCEN as a Money Services Business (MSB), and the list is public and searchable. Licensed companies also follow federal rules: they must show you the exact fees and exchange rate before you pay, give you a receipt, and let you cancel within 30 minutes. If someone cannot show you any of that, they are not a real transfer service, no matter how friendly they are.

Why it targets families like yours

Anyone who sends money regularly is watching fees and rates, and a promise to save a few dollars each month is naturally appealing. And when family is far away, an urgent message about their safety is hard to question. Being careful with money and devoted to family are strengths. The scam simply tries to use them against you.

The simple rule

Send money only through a licensed, registered company, and confirm any emergency by voice before you send a cent.

If you are already in the middle of something that feels off, stop, keep your receipts, and report it. You will not be judged, and your report protects others in your community.

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