Advance fee scams

Fraudsters can ask you to pay a fee upfront for goods or services.

We explain how they try to convince you.

 

What is an advance fee scam?

An advance fee scam is when you pay a fee upfront for goods or services but don’t get anything in return. 

This type of scam mostly starts with a phone call but can also happen on WhatsApp, email or by text. 

Fraudsters usually get in touch after you Google search then fill in an online form. Someone may even recommend a company without knowing they're fake.

A common advance fee scam involves quick loans.

Our video explains how fraudsters use loans to steal your money (1 min 9 sec).

Never pay upfront to get goods, services or to receive money until you’ve made sure that it’s genuine.

How this scam works

Fraudsters pretend to be genuine companies

Fraudsters can create fake companies or copy the name of a genuine company to offer goods or services. But they’ll want you to pay a fee upfront.

Always check that a company is genuine first by reading independent online reviews.

Find their contact details online or use the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) website. 

Make sure a phone number or email address from a message or social media post is genuine. It may have come from a fraudster.

Do you have to pay a fee upfront?

Fraudsters will ask you to pay an upfront fee before they provide any goods or services. Often, they say it’s to cover things like tax, credit checks or to release the item.

They could ask you to pay a personal bank account and say it’s going to someone who works for their company. But it’s really their own account.

If you pay, they may ask you for more or they’ll take your money and disappear.

Fraudsters use social media profiles

Some posts on social media, for things like quick loans, are scams.

If you enter personal or financial details to get more information, fraudsters can use them to get in touch and convince you to pay upfront for goods or services.

Be suspicious of anyone who wants you to pay an upfront fee.

Remember, fake social media profiles may have good reviews and many followers.

Did they contact you out of the blue?

A genuine company will never contact you out of the blue about a product or service that requires an upfront fee.

Be suspicious of any unexpected contact, even if they know some of your personal or financial details.

Fraudsters can steal your details through scam emails and texts. Or they can get them from previous scams.

Fraudsters create fake websites

Fraudsters can’t make an exact copy of a genuine website address. But they can build fake websites or copy genuine sites to offer goods or services.

To find a genuine company website: 

  • search online, or 
  • use the FCA website to find authorised financial companies.

Never use a link in a message to visit a website as this could be part of a scam.

Secure websites have a closed padlock image in the browser bar and https:// at the start of their address. But these do not mean a website is genuine.

Try the free website checker at Get Safe Online. It lets you type in a website address to see if it’s genuine.

Common advance fee scams

There are many kinds of advance fee scams. Here are some of the most common ones to avoid.

Property rentals

Always check that a company and property are genuine before paying any fee or deposit.

Fraudsters may tempt you with low rent and availability, often putting you under pressure to pay.

Visit a property in person and research the company before making a decision.

Job vacancies

If you need to pay a fee upfront to get a job, it’s a scam.

Fraudsters post all types of tempting jobs online or on social media.

They promise things such as unusually high wages and will hire you without an interview.

Money refund

Fraudsters can offer to help you get a payment refund, or to recover money lost in an earlier scam or bad investment.

Another scam is to help you inherit money from an unknown relative who’s died.

Never pay a fee upfront for anything like this.

How to check and report a company

Learn about other scams and how to protect yourself

Protect your passwords

Fraudsters will try to guess passwords to your online accounts.

How to create strong passwords

Protect your devices

Do you know how to keep your devices safe?

Learn about device safety

Social media scams

Did you know fraudsters set up fake profiles just to steal money?

Stay safe on social media

Passcode scams

Fraudsters can call to ask you for a passcode.

Protect your passcode

Investment scams

Fraudsters pretend to be genuine companies and advisers.

Avoid investment scams

Scam emails and texts

Fraudsters use scam emails and texts to steal your details.

Avoid scam messages

Learn about the latest scams

Fraudsters are always looking for new ways to try to steal your details and money. Discover which scams are common right now.

Go to latest scams

Have you been targeted by fraudsters?

Contact us right away if you think you've been scammed. We can then guide you on what to do next.

Contact us now

Stay scam safe

Learn how to spot and avoid scams, and how to report fraud.

Protect yourself from fraud

Stay scam safe

Learn how to spot and avoid scams, and how to report fraud.

Protect yourself from fraud