Scammers don’t hack systems, they pressure people. Here’s how to protect yourself.
Across the payments industry, there is a clear rise in scams where criminals pretend to be someone you trust. You might be contacted by a company you’re dealing with, customer support, the police, or even a friend or family member. Often, this happens when you’re already trying to resolve something, like a refund or a payment. That’s not a coincidence.
These scams are designed to catch you off guard, especially when something feels urgent. That’s exactly when criminals strike. If that happens, pause and take a moment before doing anything.
This is known as social engineering. Instead of breaking into systems, criminals manipulate people and play on their vulnerability and trust.
– Zaheer Jassat – VP Product
What scammers want you to do
The goal is simple: They want you to share sensitive information to be able to access your money or for you to send money yourself.
To do that, they create urgency. They might tell you your account is at risk, that you need to act immediately, or that they are helping you secure your money or even process a refund. Step by step, they guide you through what feels like a legitimate process.
At Zepz, we continuously monitor these patterns and share guidance like this to help protect customers before fraud happens. But there is a clear line you should never cross – a legitimate company will never ask you to send money to receive money, fix a problem or to protect your account. If that happens, it is a scam.
What to remember in the moment
When something feels urgent or unusual, a few simple rules can make all the difference:
- Stop and think. Scams rely on pressure and speed to push you into making a hasty decision that you later regret
- Legitimate companies will never ask you to download a payments app to receive a refund
- Never send money to receive money. This is always a red flag
- Never share passwords or one-time passcodes with anyone
- End the conversation and verify through official channels
- Be cautious with unexpected messages, especially via WhatsApp, SMS or social media
Even pausing for a few seconds can be enough to break the pattern scammers rely on. If something feels off, or too good to be true, trust that instinct. These scams work because they interrupt normal decision-making. They push you to act first and question later. Taking a moment to step back, verify the situation and use official channels can prevent a loss. Because when it comes to your money, certainty matters more than speed.
We are here to help protect you
At Zepz, protecting our customers across Sendwave and WorldRemit is a priority. If something doesn’t feel right, contact us directly through official channels. Our teams investigate every report and take action to help keep customers and cross-border communities safe.