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.

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.

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.