Before You Send Money, Read This
Scammers are getting better at creating convincing stories. They may pretend to be your bank, a government agency, a utility company, a grandchild in trouble or even a business you've worked with before.
But no matter what story they tell, many scams have one thing in common: they insist you pay in a very specific way.
Knowing how a scammer wants to be paid can help you recognize fraud before you lose your money.
Payment Methods Scammers Love
Gift Cards
If someone tells you to buy gift cards and send them the numbers on the back, it's a scam. Legitimate businesses and government agencies will never demand payment with gift cards.
Wire Transfers
Wire transfers move money quickly and are difficult to reverse, making them a favorite payment method for criminals. If someone pressures you to wire money immediately, stop and verify who you're dealing with.
Cryptocurrency
Scammers often claim cryptocurrency is the "only" or "fastest" way to make a payment. Once cryptocurrency is sent, it's extremely difficult to recover. Be especially cautious if someone you've never met asks for payment in Bitcoin or another digital currency.
Payment Apps
Apps like Venmo, Cash App or Zelle are convenient for paying people you know and trust. Unfortunately, scammers also use them because transfers can happen instantly. Never send money through a payment app simply because someone is creating urgency or claiming there's an emergency.
Cash
Some scammers go as far as telling victims to withdraw cash from their bank and hand it to a courier or mail it in a package. No legitimate organization will ask you to pay this way.
Slow Down Before You Pay
Scammers rely on urgency. They want you to act before you have time to think.
If someone says you must pay immediately or insists on one specific payment method:
- Pause the conversation.
- Verify the request using a phone number or website you know is legitimate.
- Talk with someone you trust before sending money.
Taking just a few minutes to verify could save you thousands of dollars.
Remember: Vision Bank Will Never…
Vision Bank will never contact you and ask you to send money using gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers or payment apps to "protect" your account. We will also never ask for your online banking password, PIN or one-time security codes.
If something doesn't feel right, hang up and contact us directly using the number on the back of your debit card or by calling your local Vision Bank branch.
Learn More
The Federal Trade Commission recently highlighted how the way someone asks you to pay can be one of the clearest signs of a scam. Their guidance reinforces an important rule: if someone is demanding an unusual form of payment and pressuring you to act quickly, it's time to stop and verify before you send money.