Be aware and remember that fraudsters do not care who the person is and will target people of all ages and income levels.

The 5 most common fraud schemes:

* Online Shopping Scams: The customer pays for something they bought online which looks like a “very good deal”.  Think about it: most websites offer different payment methods which offer you higher protection for the seller than money transfer.

* Lottery / Betting Scams: The client receives an email or phone call informing them that they have won a lottery or bet and that the winning client must now send you money to pay processing, insurance, customs, etc. fees.

* Fraud by a family member in need: The client is asked to urgently send money to a person who introduces himself as a relative or friend, who urgently needs financial means to pay for travel tickets, loan guarantees, medical care, etc.  .

* Romantic relationships: The client thinks he has met someone online or is contacted by someone and is convinced that they are in a romantic relationship.  Scammers will demand that money be sent to them so that they can visit and even move in to live together.

* Other scams: The client is required to send money for a variety of reasons including assistance related to various disasters, car purchases, fake loans, newspaper ads or secret buyers.

If you are a victim of fraud, report the incident immediately to the local police

If you have used MoneyGram for remittances as a result of fraud then please contact (02) 3221 154, 076 278-466, 071 323-616.

ALWAYS

You need to know who you are communicating with, especially when there is an offer for a prize or gift. Don’t believe messages like: “Congratulations on winning 1,000 euros in a foreign lottery!”

Investigate the offer to make sure it is original. If it looks too good to be true, then it may be a scam.

Remember that remittances are like when you give cash. When you send money – you can’t return it.

NEVER

Never send money to someone you don’t know. Never.

Do not send money to a relative in trouble without checking his condition in advance. Ask questions to confirm the person’s identity in advance.

Do not send money to receive money.