How to stay safe online - our security guide

You work hard for your money. Keeping it safe can be easy.

The online world gives fraudsters too many chances to steal data, intercept communications and more, to make illegitimate financial gains. So to show you how to avoid fraud, we’ve created this guide.

We know how much effort goes into earning the money you send to your loved ones. It’s something we take very seriously. That’s why we have top-notch internal security measures, so you can be sure that WorldRemit is safe to use. The tips in this guide will also help prevent you from being scammed.

If you ever have a question, or suspect any wrongdoing, please DM our dedicated Twitter account, @WorldRemitHelp.

Now, let’s show you how to keep your money safe.

Getting started

When downloading software and apps, make sure the source is trusted - software can be malicious, and can even track your activity. Use the App store on Apple devices, or Google Play store on Android devices. If it’s from a website, always verify the links. 

Check who you’re using

When sending money, check you’re using a reputable company that’s well established and regulated by the relevant authorities. It’s the most simple way to avoid being scammed online.

WorldRemit has been sending money safely since 2010 and is authorised by the British Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Firm Reference Number 900891 (you can check the FCA’s register here). 

Passwords and personal data

Passwords are vital for security, so make sure you follow these rules:

  • Don’t write your password down anywhere

  • To be safe, use 12 characters when setting your password: use Upper-Case, lower-case, numbers and symbols

  • Use two words - this significantly increases the strength of your password

  • Avoid personal information - like birthdays, your mother’s maiden name etc

  • Keep your passwords unique - using the same password across different platforms creates additional risk

Most importantly, NEVER share your password with anyone 

Financial services providers will never ask you to share passwords, token codes or any other private information. If you get a request from a supposed provider, do not share your details. Also, make sure the money transfer service is committed to protecting your data. 

Our payment partners in countries where the money is received will verify your identity, while ensuring your data is protected at all times. We also respect our customers’ privacy, and will only process data in accordance with our policies.

Choose a service that gets your money there quickly

The quicker your money arrives, the less chance there is for a scam to take place. So use a service that ensures your money reaches its intended destination quickly and safely. 90% of transfers made with WorldRemit are ready in minutes. Also, check if the platform’s customer care is open before you send, just in case. At WorldRemit, our customer service teams are available 24/7.

Choose a service that lets you track your transfer

A simple way to keep your transaction safe is by monitoring it. WorldRemit allows you to monitor transactions, providing senders and recipients with status updates along the way for peace of mind.

Learn how to spot fraud

Fraudsters use a variety of false reasons to convince you to send money to them. Avoid scams like these:

  • Creating panic: they send warnings about suspicious behaviour or say that ‘an unknown device has accessed your account’. Always check before replying.

  • Urgency: making you act fast means the fraudster avoids suspicion. Think twice if you’re instructed to ‘call urgently’ after ‘you’ve missed important calls’.

  • Being too helpful: sometimes, using overly friendly or professional language to add credibility is another trick. Make sure to check the number.

  • Following up a text with a phone call: fraudsters use this tactic to add credibility.

Don’t just ignore messages from a bank or money service, always check to see if the incident is real.

The 3-step rule: STOP, CHALLENGE, PROTECT

There’s a simple 3-step way to help avoid online fraud:

STOP: Take a moment to think before sending money or providing any information.

CHALLENGE: It’s okay to ignore or refuse requests for funds. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve wired money to a scammer and report it to Action Fraud.

If you have any doubts about who’s asking you for money, or why you’re sending it, don’t make the transaction.

Learn more about the 3-step rule at Take Five to Stop Fraud.

How fraudsters approach you

Fraudsters use many different ways to approach people: email, phone and social media are the most common. Here are some tips to stay safe.

Emails

When we email you, make sure it’s actually us. Look out for:

  • What’s behind the display name? It might say WorldRemit, but make sure the address matches

  • Multiple emails from different addresses

  • Emails with different instructions - we try to only ask you to do one thing at a time

  • Bad spelling or pushy messages

  • Designs or logos that you don’t recognise

  • Links to webpages you don’t recognise

  • Strange attachments (as a rule, don’t open them)

  • You’re asked to provide information that seems unusual, such as a password 

We take great care with our customer communications, so if anything seems unusual, it’s not from us. We certainly would never ask you for a password or other security details.

Phone

The best way to talk to us is to call the number on our website. If you do receive a call saying it’s from us, look out for tactics like these:

  • You don’t recognise the number of the caller (check it against our website) 

  • You’re asked for your password or any sensitive information (we’ll never ask for it)

  • Someone is being pushy during a call

  • Receiving a text after a call - always check the number

Social media

We love talking with our customers over social media, but we’ll never directly approach you using it. So watch out for fraudsters who try to impersonate us. They’re trying to draw you into a money flipping scam. Always look for the blue tick to verify that it’s us, and beware of misspelled or unusual words in the name. 

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Transferring to someone you don’t know?

If you’re transferring money to someone you don’t know well, the risk of credit card fraud increases. Before you make a fake money transfer, stop and think:

  • Why do I need to send money to claim an inheritance or win a prize draw?

  • Why does this relative/friend/associate suddenly need money? Is their request for funds genuine?

  • Do I really know this person? If I don’t, can I trust that they are who they say they are?

  • Should I send money to show someone funds are available in my account?

  • Am I 100% sure I should be sending money to someone I met online?

  • Why am I paying for a tax I’ve never heard of before?

  • Why do I need to transfer money to claim from an investment?


Is what they’re offering too good to be true?

You might see some ‘get rich quick’ offers on social media - for example ‘turn $100 into $1,000’. This is known as remittance fraud, or ‘money-flipping’, and is usually a scam. Once the scammer has your money, they block you from contacting them by both social media and phone.

If you know someone who has been paid by one of these offers, you must still be careful. This process is called ‘carding’. The scammer sends money for credibility using stolen credit card details. The next people may well be blocked and receive nothing.

If you’ve heard of a friend or relative who has successfully ‘flipped money’, don’t be drawn in.

Are you being asked to change bank details?

If your recipient has requested that you change your bank details, make sure you check with the recipient verbally before making the change. You could be being pulled into a money transfer scam.

Whenever you make a transfer always bear in mind the three step rule above. 

Maintaining your devices

Whether you’re using your phone, tablet or computer, there are some ways you can keep security levels high and avoid credit card fraud online:

  • Make sure your wifi is password protected

  • Keep apps updated, as they often contain new security measures

  • Use anti-virus software if you can - it significantly improves your protection

  • If you’re asked to ‘save password’ on important websites, don’t do it - it’s easier for criminals to access your accounts.

  • Be careful when using USBs - never plug in a USB that you’re not confident with; there are USB scanning services available if you’re not sure


Other security tips

Here are some other tips to help you avoid internet scams:

  • If you’re connecting to public wifi, make sure it’s a trusted source - using your mobile hotspot is safer

  • Watch out for websites where there is no security certificate (look for the padlock in your browser’s URL bar)

  • Check the spelling - fraudsters will try to use similarly spelled websites to trick you into thinking they’re someone else

  • Avoid ‘click bait’ where you’re advertised messages like ‘you’ve won a prize!’, as this can lead to malicious software being installed on your device


We’re helping too

At WorldRemit, we take our customers’ privacy and security very seriously. Our website and apps are designed to prevent accounts from unauthorised login attempts and transfer fraud. We have strict verification processes to ensure that we correctly identify every customer. We also have a team of dedicated analysts who monitor transactions for signs of unusual activity.

You work hard for your money. We work hard to keep it safe.

If you need anything else...

We hope those tips have shown you how to avoid online banking fraud and how to prevent scams. If you’ve got a question, would like to check a situation with us or need to report something, please DM our dedicated Twitter account, @WorldRemitHelp.

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