What is fraud, and what is a scam? 

Fraud is when someone with your personal information, like your phone number, name or credit card number, tries to make purchases pretending they are you. 

 

A scam is an illegal way to make money, often by using trickery. It is a scam when some one attempts to trick you into giving them money or personal information that may later allow the person to take your money. It is essentially a first step before committing fraud. 

 

It is important to be aware that scams are a real and common threat. You should be vigilant to make sure this does not happen to you, by never sharing your personal information and being very suspicious of anyone that asks for your data or for a money transfer online. 

 

How do I recognize a scam, and keep myself safe?

Here are some best practices for keeping your data and your money transfers safe:

 

Never share your personal information online

This is especially true for your passwords, pin codes, credit card information. Many people make a mistake of sharing personal information online with trusted friends and family. Even if you want to share the information with a trusted loved one, do NOT send it in an email or send it online. Share the information in person if possible, or over the phone, so there is no written record that can be found if their account is hacked. 

 

Whenever you get an official looking email check the domain name

Many scam emails look like official requests from trusted brands to log in or verify personal information. Don't click on the link! Check if the reply-to email address is really from the company. If you're not sure, go to their website and log in there, without clicking on the link in the email. 

 

Never transfer money to people you do not know personally

If you do not know the person, it is extremely likely that the money transfer request is a scam. 

 

Do not transfer money to pay for credit card fees, customs or shipping fees

If you are asked to pay for unexpected services - loans, rental fees, deposits or administrative procedures - be suspicious. 

 

Do not pay for an item or service with a money transfer to an individual

If you are buying for a product or service online, make sure you are buying from a reputable business you recognize. A business should never ask you for a bank transfer. Buying from an individual person instead of a business online is always a huge risk and should be avoided. 

 

Do not transfer money to someone if you are unsure who you are dealing with

This can be to a stranger, someone claiming to be a relative with an emergency or a telemarketer offering you an online purchase. If you're not sure they are who they say they are, it's very likely your instincts are correct. 

 

Do not transfer money to gain lottery money or promises of future compensation

Often scams consist of promising us something we want, if we just send them a bit of money through a money transfer. Sadly, we never get the lottery money but we do lose the money we send. 

 

What does Rebtel do to keep my account safe?

At Rebtel, one of our top priorities is to protect our customers and keep their money safe. Our dedicated financial crime team deters, prevents, detects and protects our system from being used by criminals. 

 

We’re passionate about fighting crime and catching the baddies, but it's really important that you do your part in keeping yourself safe and avoiding falling victim to a scam. If a scammer has your personal information, it's hard for us to know that the person making the money transfer is not you! 

 

I think I'm a victim of fraud, what do I do? 

If you believe you may be the victim of a scam, DO NOT MAKE THE MONEY TRANSFER!

Instead, contact our support team immediately.

 

To contact support please call +1-(833)-429-2227 between 08:00 and 17:00 ET, or send us an email to supportmoneytransfer@rebtel.com.

 

Our team will help identify if you have been a victim of fraud, analyze the scenario and tell you what you should do next.