Sending money to loved ones abroad: how to avoid scams

Helping a loved one abroad often starts with a familiar message: rent is due, a bill needs paying, or something unexpected has happened. Scammers copy these situations because concern can make people act before checking. A familiar name, photograph, or conversation history does not prove who is asking for money.

The safest routine separates three checks: who is asking, where the money will go, and what you are authorising. Use the steps below even for someone you regularly support, especially when a request arrives from a new number or includes changed payment details.

1. Verify identity through an independent channel

If a relative messages you asking for money, call a number you already had saved before that request. Do not use a replacement number supplied in the same conversation. A second message in the same chat is not independent verification: someone controlling the account can answer it too.

Ask your relative to explain the request and confirm the intended recipient. If you cannot reach them, contact another trusted family member through an established channel. A familiar voice or video alone is not conclusive, because recordings and AI-generated impersonations can be used to deceive.

Agree on a family verification phrase in advance and keep it out of public posts. Treat it as an extra check, not a substitute for a callback. Avoid questions whose answers appear on social media, such as a birthday or pet's name.

For example, a message saying “My phone broke; send money to my friend's account” contains two changes to verify separately: the caller's identity and the new recipient. Until both are clear, pause the transfer.

2. Recognise urgency and fake support

Urgency is not proof of fraud, but it is a reason to slow down. Be especially cautious when a request combines a deadline with secrecy or instructions to bypass normal checks. Watch for these patterns:

• A supposed relative asks you not to call or tell anyone else.
• A supposed support agent says your money is at risk and must move to a “safe account”.
• Someone demands an extra transfer to unlock funds, verify an account, or release a refund.
• The person asks you to install remote-access software or share your screen while banking.

Names, logos, caller ID, and screenshots can be copied or manipulated. A person who knows your name or transaction details is not automatically a legitimate support representative. End an unexpected support conversation and find the service's contact route yourself.

For TopSend, start by typing topsend.live into your browser. Use contact information published there rather than details sent by the caller. A padlock indicates an encrypted connection; it does not prove that a website or request is genuine.

3. Protect codes, credentials, and devices

Do not tell anyone your password, PIN, recovery codes, or one-time confirmation codes. A code may authorise a payment, a new device, or account recovery. Read the accompanying message before using it. Never approve a login or payment notification you did not initiate.

Enter a code only in the genuine service you opened yourself, for an action you understand. Do not read it out, forward it in chat, or show it during screen sharing. If someone says a code is needed to cancel fraud, stop and verify the request independently.

Use a unique password for each financial account and for the email account connected to it. A password manager can help. Enable multifactor authentication where available, update your device and browser, and keep a screen lock enabled.

Avoid making transfers on shared devices. If an unexpected link leads to a login page, close it and open the service independently. If you already entered credentials, change them through the genuine service from a trusted device and review available session and security settings.

4. Check the destination before confirming

A real conversation with your relative does not remove the need to check payment details. An account may be mistyped, an old message may contain outdated information, or copied details may be altered by malicious software.

Ask the recipient to confirm their current details through the verified channel. Then compare them with the final transfer screen:

1. The recipient's full name as required for the selected receiving method.
2. The entire account number or other payment identifier, not just the last few characters.
3. The receiving institution and destination, where applicable.
4. The sending and receiving currencies, transfer amount, and total payment.

If a displayed account name differs from the expected name, stop and resolve the mismatch. If no name check is offered, do not assume the details have been verified. A request to pay a third party needs a clear explanation and separate confirmation.

Recheck the final screen after pasting details. A small test payment can expose some mistakes, but it does not establish someone's honesty or guarantee that a later transfer is safe. Keep the confirmation privately; do not post receipts containing personal or transaction details.

5. Act quickly if something seems wrong

If you have not sent the money, stop the transaction and any screen sharing or remote access. Preserve the messages, usernames, numbers, payment details, and relevant times before blocking the suspicious contact.

If you have already paid or exposed access credentials, take these steps:

1. Contact the transfer service and the bank or card issuer involved through independently verified channels. Explain the suspected fraud and provide the transaction reference.
2. Ask whether stopping, recalling, or disputing the payment is possible. Availability depends on the payment method, status, and applicable rules; recovery is not guaranteed.
3. From a trusted device, secure affected accounts and the linked email. Change exposed or reused passwords, revoke unfamiliar sessions where possible, and report any shared codes.
4. If remote-access software was involved, disconnect the affected device from the internet and seek trusted technical help before using it for finances again.
5. Report the incident to the appropriate local authorities and the platform used by the impersonator. Warn your relative through a trusted channel.

Do not send more money to someone promising guaranteed recovery for an upfront payment. Keep evidence and reference numbers together, and tell the provider exactly what happened, including any payment you authorised under deception.

6. Make verification a family habit

Agree that urgent requests still require a callback, new payment details need confirmation, and nobody shares security codes. Keep trusted contact numbers available outside a single messaging account. This makes checking feel routine rather than accusatory.

Before each transfer, ask: have I independently verified the person, checked the destination, and understood the action I am confirming? If an answer is unclear, pause. When considering TopSend, open the website directly and review the current information and conditions for your intended transfer. A familiar routine helps you support loved ones without letting pressure make the decision.