International Money Transfer Safety
Use this international money transfer safety checklist to verify providers, protect your account, identify scams, and send money more securely.
International money transfers can be safe when you use a legitimate provider, verify the recipient, protect your account, and carefully review the transaction before paying.
However, sending money to the wrong person, using a fraudulent website, or responding to a scam may result in a permanent loss. Completed transfers can be difficult or impossible to reverse.
Use this checklist before sending money through a new provider or transferring funds to an unfamiliar recipient.
Are international money transfers safe?
The safety of a transfer depends on several factors:
Whether the provider is legitimate and appropriately regulated
Which legal entity handles the transaction
Whether you are using the provider’s official website or application
How the provider protects customer funds and personal information
Whether the recipient is genuine
Whether the payment instructions are correct
How quickly you respond to suspicious activity
Which protections apply in your jurisdiction
No transfer provider can eliminate every risk. You should independently verify the provider, recipient, and transaction details before sending money.
1. Verify the transfer provider
Before creating an account or entering payment information, confirm:
The provider’s complete legal name
Its official website and application
Its registered address
Which company entity serves your country
Whether it is authorised to provide the relevant service
Its regulator or licensing authority
Its official customer support details
Its complaint procedure
A familiar brand may operate through different legal entities in different jurisdictions. Registration, customer protections, supported services, and complaint rights may therefore vary by country.
Do not rely only on a logo, advertisement, social media profile, or review. Verify important claims using the provider’s official website and the relevant regulator’s public register.
2. Understand what regulation means
Regulated money transfer providers may be required to follow rules relating to:
Customer identification
Anti-money-laundering controls
Transaction monitoring
Record keeping
Security
Complaints
Protection or safeguarding of customer funds
Reporting suspicious activity
Regulation does not mean that every transaction is risk-free or that losses are always reimbursed.
Protections depend on the provider, product, jurisdiction, and circumstances. Some payment services may not receive the same protections as bank deposits.
Check the terms that apply to the specific legal entity handling your transfer.
3. Use only the official website or application
Fraudulent websites may imitate legitimate transfer providers.
Before signing in or paying:
Type the provider’s address directly or use a trusted bookmark
Check the domain name carefully
Look for misspellings or additional words in the URL
Confirm that the connection uses HTTPS
Download applications only from official app stores
Check that the application publisher is correct
Avoid links sent through unsolicited emails, messages, or advertisements
HTTPS helps protect the connection but does not prove that a website is legitimate. Scam websites can also use encrypted connections.
If you are unsure, close the page and access the provider through independently verified contact information.
4. Check the recipient carefully
Most transfer scams involve persuading a real customer to send money voluntarily.
Before paying, confirm:
The recipient’s identity
Why the payment is required
The relationship between you and the recipient
The recipient’s account details
Whether the request is expected
Whether the recipient is pressuring you to act quickly
Whether the payment can be independently verified
Do not send money solely because someone appears to know personal information about you. Criminals may obtain names, addresses, account details, or previous messages through data leaks and compromised accounts.
For a new recipient, verify their identity through a trusted channel before sending money.
5. Independently verify bank details
Payment instructions can be changed by criminals who compromise email accounts, invoices, or messaging conversations.
Before sending a significant amount:
Call the recipient using a previously verified number
Confirm the account holder’s name
Read back the account details
Verify any recent changes to payment instructions
Confirm the currency and payment reference
Be suspicious of unexpected requests to use a different account
Do not use contact information contained only in the message that requested the payment.
This is particularly important for property purchases, business invoices, legal fees, investments, and other high-value transactions.
6. Review every transfer detail
Before confirming payment, check:
Sender name
Recipient name
Bank name
Account number or IBAN
SWIFT or BIC code
Routing or branch code
Destination country
Sending currency
Receiving currency
Amount sent
Transfer fee
Exchange rate
Recipient payout
Payment method
Delivery estimate
Cancellation terms
A small error can send funds to the wrong account or delay the transaction.
Providers may be unable to recover money after it has been deposited, withdrawn, or collected.
7. Understand the complete cost
A safe transfer decision also requires clear pricing.
Review:
The visible transfer fee
The provider’s exchange rate
The estimated FX markup
Card or bank funding fees
Intermediary bank charges
Potential recipient-bank deductions
Cancellation or amendment fees
A zero-fee offer is not necessarily free. The provider may include part of its revenue in the exchange rate.
Compare the final recipient payout rather than selecting a provider solely because it advertises no transfer fee.
Read our guide explaining [FX markup](/en/guides/fx-markup/).
8. Protect your account
Use strong account-security practices:
Create a unique password
Do not reuse a password from another service
Enable multi-factor authentication when available
Protect your email account with multi-factor authentication
Never share one-time verification codes
Do not disclose your password or PIN
Review account activity regularly
Sign out on shared devices
Keep recovery information current
A legitimate support representative should not ask you to provide your complete password or a one-time authentication code.
If someone asks for a code sent to your phone or email, stop the conversation and contact the provider directly.
9. Secure your device and connection
Before accessing a transfer account:
Install operating system and browser updates
Keep security software current
Use a device you control
Avoid public or shared computers
Do not install software requested by an unsolicited caller
Be cautious when using public Wi-Fi
Lock your device with a PIN, password, or biometric control
Check for unfamiliar browser extensions or applications
Criminals may ask you to install remote-access software so they can view your screen, control your device, or access your financial accounts.
Do not grant remote access to anyone who contacts you unexpectedly.
10. Recognise phishing messages
Phishing messages attempt to make you reveal information, open a malicious attachment, or visit a fraudulent website.
Warning signs include:
Unexpected requests to verify your account
Threats that your account will be closed immediately
Requests for passwords or verification codes
Unusual sender addresses
Misspelled domain names
Attachments you were not expecting
Links with hidden or unfamiliar destinations
Messages creating panic or urgency
Offers that appear unusually generous
Do not reply or click. Contact the provider through its official website or application.
11. Recognise impersonation scams
Criminals may pretend to represent:
A bank
A transfer provider
A government agency
A tax authority
The police
A utility company
A delivery service
A technology company
A family member
A lawyer
A property agent
They may use spoofed phone numbers, realistic email addresses, copied branding, artificial intelligence, or stolen personal information.
A caller’s identity should not be trusted only because the displayed phone number or name appears legitimate.
End the call and contact the organisation independently.
12. Common money transfer scams
Romance scams
A person develops an online relationship and later requests money for travel, medical treatment, emergencies, investments, or legal problems.
Do not send money to someone you have not independently verified.
Investment scams
A promoter promises unusually high or guaranteed returns and pressures you to fund an investment quickly.
Verify the company and individual through the appropriate financial regulator. Guaranteed high returns with little or no risk are a major warning sign.
Purchase scams
A seller requests a bank transfer for goods, tickets, vehicles, property, or services that do not exist or are not delivered.
Use payment methods that provide appropriate buyer protections when available.
Invoice fraud
A criminal sends a genuine-looking invoice containing replacement bank details.
Confirm all new or changed payment instructions directly with the intended recipient.
Family emergency scams
Someone claims to be a relative or friend who urgently needs money.
Contact the person using a known phone number or ask a question only the real person is likely to answer.
Government impersonation
A criminal claims that you owe taxes, fines, or legal payments and threatens arrest or immediate penalties.
Government agencies generally provide formal processes for verifying debts. Contact the organisation independently.
Job and money-mule scams
A supposed employer asks you to receive and forward money using your personal account.
You may be moving stolen or criminal funds. Do not transfer money on behalf of an unknown person or company.
Advance-fee scams
You are asked to pay a fee before receiving a prize, inheritance, loan, refund, or investment return.
Legitimate organisations do not normally require payment through an unrelated personal account to release unexpected funds.
Recovery scams
After an initial loss, another person offers to recover your money in exchange for an upfront payment.
Victims of fraud are often targeted again. Verify any recovery service independently and be suspicious of guaranteed results.
13. Treat urgency as a warning sign
Scammers often try to prevent careful verification.
Be cautious if someone:
Demands immediate payment
Tells you not to contact your bank
Asks you to keep the transfer secret
Claims the opportunity will disappear within minutes
Threatens arrest, account closure, or financial loss
Changes payment instructions unexpectedly
Refuses to communicate through official channels
Instructs you to misstate the purpose of the transfer
Tells you how to answer a provider’s security questions
A legitimate organisation should allow you to independently verify a payment request.
Stop and investigate whenever you feel pressured.
14. Never misrepresent a transfer
A provider may ask about:
The identity of the recipient
Your relationship with the recipient
The purpose of the payment
The source of the funds
Whether someone instructed you to transfer money
Answer these questions accurately.
A scammer may tell you to describe an investment as a family payment or claim that a stranger is a friend. This is a serious warning sign.
Security questions are designed to identify fraud and protect customers. Do not allow another person to provide or script your answers.
15. Be careful with cryptocurrency requests
Cryptocurrency transactions can be irreversible and may not provide the same recovery options as some traditional payment methods.
Be cautious if someone asks you to:
Buy cryptocurrency to pay a fee
Send assets to an unfamiliar wallet
Transfer funds to unlock an investment account
Pay taxes directly to a wallet address
Move cryptocurrency to a “safe” or “secure” wallet
Allow remote access while purchasing cryptocurrency
Verify the request independently and understand that recovery may be impossible after the transaction is confirmed.
16. Start with a smaller test transfer
For a new recipient or unfamiliar bank account, consider sending a smaller test amount before transferring the full balance.
Confirm that:
The recipient received the payment
The recipient name is correct
The account supports the intended currency
No unexpected deductions occurred
The payment reference appeared correctly
A successful test does not eliminate every risk, but it may help identify incorrect account details.
Be aware that sending multiple payments may result in additional fees or compliance checks. Do not divide transactions to avoid provider limits or regulatory requirements.
17. Take extra care with large transfers
Large international transfers may require:
Additional identity verification
Proof of funds
Evidence of transfer purpose
Manual provider approval
Higher bank limits
Dedicated support
More detailed recipient verification
Confirm all requirements before moving money from your bank.
For additional guidance, read [How to compare large international transfers](/en/guides/large-transfers/).
18. Keep evidence of the transaction
Save:
The original quote
Exchange-rate and fee information
The recipient’s verified instructions
Transfer confirmation
Payment receipt
Transaction reference
Provider communications
Identity and compliance requests
Delivery confirmation
Screenshots of relevant information
These records can help the provider, bank, regulator, police, or court understand what happened if a dispute or fraud investigation occurs.
Avoid storing sensitive documents in an unsecured location.
19. Monitor the transfer
After payment:
Check the transfer status through the official provider account
Review emails and application notifications
Respond to legitimate verification requests
Confirm delivery with the recipient
Investigate unexpected delays
Report unfamiliar account activity immediately
Do not rely on tracking links sent by an unknown person. Sign in through the provider’s official website or application.
20. What to do if you entered incorrect details
Contact the provider immediately if you entered:
The wrong account number
An incorrect recipient name
The wrong currency
An incorrect amount
An invalid bank code
Incorrect cash pickup information
Do not wait for the expected delivery date.
The provider may be able to pause or amend a transfer before payout, but recovery is not guaranteed. Fees may apply, and the process may require cooperation from other banks or payment partners.
21. What to do if you suspect fraud
Act immediately:
Contact the transfer provider through its official support channel.
Ask whether the payment can be stopped, recalled, or frozen.
Contact your bank or card issuer.
Change passwords for affected accounts.
Enable or reset multi-factor authentication.
Secure your email account.
Save messages, receipts, account details, and transaction references.
Report the incident to the relevant police, fraud-reporting service, or regulator.
Monitor financial accounts for additional suspicious activity.
Warn the real organisation or person if they were impersonated.
Do not pay a third party that guarantees recovery of the funds.
The sooner you report the transaction, the better the chance that an involved institution may still be able to act. Recovery remains uncertain.
22. How to make a complaint
If you have a problem with a provider:
Contact its customer support.
Follow its formal complaint procedure.
Keep copies of your complaint and all responses.
Record relevant dates and transaction references.
Escalate the matter to the applicable regulator, ombudsman, or dispute-resolution body when available.
The appropriate escalation route depends on the legal entity, service, and jurisdiction.
Kredly does not operate transfers, hold customer funds, or resolve provider complaints on a customer’s behalf.
International transfer safety checklist
Before sending money, confirm:
Am I using the provider’s official website or application?
Which legal entity will process the transfer?
Is that entity appropriately regulated?
Have I independently verified the recipient?
Have I confirmed the bank details through a trusted channel?
Do I understand why the payment is required?
Is anyone pressuring me to act immediately?
Have the payment instructions changed unexpectedly?
What is the complete fee?
What exchange rate is being used?
How much will the recipient receive?
Are there possible bank or card charges?
Are all recipient details correct?
Can the transfer be cancelled?
Do I have the provider’s official support details?
Have I saved the quote and transaction records?
Would I still send the money if it could not be recovered?
If any answer is unclear, pause the transfer and investigate before paying.
How Kredly assesses transfer information
Kredly provides independent money transfer comparisons and educational information. We do not hold, send, receive, or control customer funds.
Our comparisons may include:
Provider exchange rates
Transfer fees
Estimated FX markup
Recipient payouts
Delivery estimates
Available payment methods
Provider information
Organic rankings are determined according to our published [Methodology](/en/methodology/). Commercial relationships do not guarantee favourable editorial treatment or organic ranking.
Provider information, rates, and terms can change. Confirm all important details directly with the provider before sending money.
Key takeaway
A legitimate provider is only one part of a safe international transfer.
You should also verify the recipient, protect your account, check every payment detail, understand the complete cost, and resist pressure to act quickly.
If something feels unusual, stop. Independently confirm the request before sending money, because a completed transfer may not be recoverable.