«Here’s the screenshot, the money has been transferred»: IDBank warns of fake payment scams
Scammers are increasingly using fake screenshots of transfers, winnings, and bonuses to trick victims into handing over goods or sending them real money. A screenshot from a banking app can look convincing: the specified amount, a familiar logo, and a “transfer completed” status. But an image on the screen does not yet mean that the money has actually arrived.
Mechanics of the scam: from a screenshot to a real transfer
Scenario №1
- “You’ve won a prize”: The person is informed about a large prize, bonus, or payout and receives a screenshot of an alleged bank transfer. No money appears in the victim’s account.
- “You need to pay a fee”: Scammers explain the absence of funds in the victim’s account as a technical issue: for example, to receive AMD 100,000, they must first pay AMD 20,000 – 30,000 as a “commission,” “tax,” or make a “counter-transfer” for verification.
Scenario №2
- “I have already paid for the item”: This scenario is particularly dangerous for sellers on classified platforms and social media. The “buyer” shows a screenshot of a successful transfer and asks to send them the product immediately. In reality, no payment was made.
Important Note
In international transfers, a fee can indeed sometimes be charged to the recipient, but it will be deducted directly from the transfer amount, rather than sent to a stranger as a separate payment.
Legal Trap
If a person independently sends a “commission” or a “verification payment” to scammers, the bank views it as a regular transfer made and confirmed by the account holder. Recovering such funds can be extremely difficult.
The same applies to a seller who trusted the screenshot and voluntarily released the goods. The scam is usually discovered only after the “buyer” disappears.
IDBank recommends
- Check only your own account. Do not trust other people’s screenshots, receipts, or transfer notifications. Money is considered received only when you see it reflected in your account.
- Never pay to receive a transfer. A requirement to send a “commission,” ” insurance payment,” or “verification amount” to a stranger is a clear sign of fraud.
- Do not hand over the product before the funds are actually credited to your account. This applies especially when selling through List.am, Telegram, Facebook Marketplace, and other platforms.
- Do not fall for promises of substantial financial gain. The larger the “winnings” or “bonus,” the easier it is for scammers to convince the victim to risk a relatively small amount to claim it.
- If you have already sent money to scammers, contact your bank immediately and save all correspondence, screenshots, and recipient details.
Remember: A screenshot displaying “Payment Completed” is worth nothing on its own. Real money transfers are confirmed not by a screenshot, but by the actual crediting of funds to your account.
THE BANK IS SUPERVISED BY THE CBA