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Advance fee scams

If you have to pay a fee upfront for goods or services, make sure it’s genuine first.

Find out how to tell if it’s a scam.

What is an advance fee scam?

An advance fee scam is when you pay a fee upfront for goods or services but don’t get anything in return. 

Quick online loans are a common advance fee scam. 

Learn how to spot a fake loan in our video.

Before you pay an upfront fee for goods, services or to receive money check that it’s genuine.

Advance fee scam video
 

What is an advance fee scam?

An advance fee scam is when you pay a fee upfront for goods or services but don’t get anything in return. 

Quick online loans are a common advance fee scam. 

Learn how to spot a fake loan in our video.

Before you pay an upfront fee for goods, services or to receive money check that it’s genuine.

How this scam works

Fraudsters pretend to be genuine companies

Fraudsters can use the name of a genuine company or set up a fake company. Their goods or services may seem real, but they’ll ask you for an upfront fee.

Before you deal with a company, look for independent reviews online to make sure it’s not a scam.

Get contact details you can trust by searching online or from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) website.

Did you know that fraudsters can add their own phone number or email address to a message or social media post?

Do you have to pay a fee upfront?

Fraudsters will say you have to pay upfront to get the goods or services, or for things like credit checks and tax.

They usually tell you to send money to a personal bank account of someone at the company. The truth is the account belongs to the fraudster.

Never pay this fee. Fraudsters will either disappear with your money or make up an excuse to ask for more.

Fraudsters use social media profiles

Fraudsters create social media profiles to offer goods or services that don’t exist.

Other people may follow their profile and it might have some good reviews.

A fake advert or post may ask you to enter your details to find out more information. Fraudsters can then use them to get in touch to talk you into paying an upfront fee.

Did they contact you out of the blue?

Fraudsters often get in touch out of the blue to offer you products or services.

If they know some of your personal and financial details, you might trust them. But fraudsters steal details, or you may have given them away.

Always make sure a company is genuine before you pay any fee upfront.

Fraudsters create fake websites

Always find a genuine company website by: 

  • searching online, or 
  • visiting the FCA site for a list of financial companies they approve.

If you use a link from social media, an email or text it can take you to a fake website or a copy of a real site with a fake address.

A closed padlock image in a website browser bar and https:// at the start of the address means it’s secure. But it can still be fake.

Get Safe Online has a free website address checker you can use.

Common advance fee scams

There are many kinds of advance fee scams, here are a few common ones to watch out for.

Property rentals

Fraudsters advertise properties that they don’t own.

They use areas that are in demand or lower rental prices to attract attention.

Make sure an advert is genuine. Always visit a property for a viewing before you pay any money.

Job vacancies

Fraudsters advertise fake jobs online with good wages and other benefits to tempt you.

Never pay a fee upfront to get a job or to apply for one.

Money refund

Offers to get your money back from a bad investment, a scam or a payment usually come from fraudsters.

They can also promise to get you a share of a will from an unknown relative.

Fraudsters will charge you a fee upfront then disappear with your money.

How to check and report a company

Learn about other scams and how to protect yourself

Protect your passwords

Fraudsters will try to guess passwords to your online accounts.

How to create strong passwords

Protect your devices

Do you know how to keep your devices safe?

Learn about device safety

Social media scams

Did you know fraudsters set up fake profiles just to steal money?

Stay safe on social media

Passcode scams

Fraudsters can phone to ask you to share a passcode.

Protect your passcode

Investment scams

Fraudsters pretend to be genuine companies and advisers.

Avoid investment scams

Scam emails and texts

Fraudsters use scam emails and texts to steal your details.

Avoid scam messages

Learn about the latest scams

Fraudsters are always looking for new ways to try to steal your details and money. Discover which scams are common right now.

Go to latest scams

Have you been targeted by fraudsters?

Contact us right away if you think you've been scammed. We can then guide you on what to do next.

Contact us now

Stay scam safe

Find out how to spot and avoid scams, and how to report fraud.

Protect yourself from fraud

Stay scam safe

Find out how to spot and avoid scams, and how to report fraud.

Protect yourself from fraud