Asked to pay a fee to receive money? Don't pay.
No real institution will ever ask you to send money first to receive money later. This is one of the oldest and most reliable scams in the world.
This is a second opinion, not a verdict. We never say a message is safe. If anything matches what you saw, slow down and verify before sending money or sharing codes.
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WhatsApp · Today · 09:14
What this scam is, in plain words
This is called the advance-fee scam. The scammer dangles a large amount — a prize, refund, inheritance, payout, social-insurance claim — but you must pay a 'small' fee to unlock it. Once you pay, another fee appears. And another. The money you were promised never arrives.
It works because the promised amount is much larger than the fee, so paying feels rational. It isn't. The fee is the entire point of the scam.
Warning signs
If two or more of these show up at once, slow down.
- You were contacted about money you didn't apply for.
- There is a fee — clearance, processing, tax, customs, admin — before you can receive anything.
- The promised amount is suspiciously large.
- Payment is requested by bank transfer, crypto, or gift cards — not back to the original sender.
- You're pushed to act today.
- When you hesitate, the story changes or a new fee appears.
What to do now
Calm steps you can take in the next two minutes.
Don't
- Don't pay any fee — there is no real transfer waiting for you.
- Don't share your bank or card details with the sender.
- Don't send a photo of your ID 'for verification'.
- Don't reply trying to negotiate or ask questions — it only deepens the contact.
Do
- Block the sender and report the message inside the app (WhatsApp, SMS, email).
- If they impersonated a real organisation, contact that organisation directly through their official website.
- Tell one trusted person — talking about it out loud is the fastest way to clear your head.
One last reminder. We never say something is safe. We surface signs to help you pause and verify. If anything looks off, talk to one person you trust before sending money or sharing codes.
Related guides
Same playbook, different cover story.
“Money waiting” scam
“You have money waiting.” It almost certainly doesn't exist.
Someone has told you there is money in your name — social insurance, a refund, an inheritance, a lottery, an old account. Then they ask you to pay something small to release it. The money is not real.
Read the guideRecovery scam
Crypto recovery scam — the second scam after the first.
If you've already lost money to a crypto or investment scam, expect to be contacted by 'recovery experts'. They are not lawyers, hackers, or government officials. They are the same playbook, second act.
Read the guideStart here
Is this a scam? Pause before you pay or share.
If you feel rushed, isolated, or asked to pay before you receive anything — pause. That feeling is usually right. Take two minutes to check it properly.
Read the guideNot sure yet? Check the message before you reply.
Paste what you received. We'll point out the signs and tell you what to verify — before you reply, click, or send anything.