Tricking a victim into sending money by bank wire, a fast and largely irreversible payment method.
Wires settle quickly and are extremely hard to reverse, which makes them a favorite of scammers. Once the funds land in the recipient's account, they are typically withdrawn or moved within minutes.
Requests to pay a job-related fee, “equipment deposit,” or refund by wire should be treated as a major warning sign.
Red flags
- Urgent request to wire money
- Wiring to an individual rather than a verified business
- Instructions to wire back part of a received payment
Frequently asked questions
Can I get money back after a fraudulent wire?
Rarely. Wires are designed to be fast and final. Report it to your bank immediately — a recall is sometimes possible within a very short window — and file with the FBI's IC3, but recovery is uncommon.