Report a Fraud

Report Fraud

INSTANT CASH has made it easy for you to report fraud online.

**If you suspect fraud on a transaction that has not yet been received, please contact our Customer Care Center at 8004571 in order to have the transaction cancelled immediately or else please mail it to iccomplaints@instantcashworldwide.com

SECURITY OF YOUR FUNDS

Maintaining safe transfers and ensuring your money is safe is paramount to us here at INSTANT CASH.

You’re probably aware that handling cash notes, especially in larger than average amounts, is risky and this risk also applies to wire or digital transfers. Transferring funds online carries its own risks as once transferred, it’s challenging to claim a refund so it’s best to protect your funds at every step by staying vigilant at all times.

COMMON FRAUDS

Unfortunately, sometimes people are victim to several frauds and fraudsters often prey on victims who have recently suffered a misfortune, e.g. job loss, and those who are not aware of these fraud tactics. It’s always advisable to ask around to verify any information before transferring any funds for any reason that seems even slightly suspicious. Be diligent and educate yourself on the latest tactics used by fraudsters and scammers.

These are general frauds that happen through either online or offline interactions and you must report it to the authorities concerned.

Loans

You might be offered a loan to help you out in difficult financial situations. Always check details of the organization offering loans first and never transfer anything or give out your bank account details to any stranger.

Cash Advances – training

You might have heard or seen opportunities to work from home and earns lots of money after training with the company in question. First, however, you will need to pay a ‘small’ training or membership fee to get you started. This is again a common tactic used so always check details before sending any funds.

Lottery

The temptation to win a ‘jackpot’ is always high but a lot of it can be fraudulent. There are many frauds of this nature and includes the Sidi Salem Fraud and the Nigerian scheme. Here, you may get a notice or receive information that you’ve won something but need to send funds to pay for ‘customs charges’ or other fees to release goods or enable the huge prize money to transferred to your account. Always proceed with caution and check with multiple sources when sending money for schemes of this nature as the returns are often misleading and you will lose your funds.

Investment opportunities

Another frequently used tactic where you could be invited to invest in an exciting product or scheme that sounds highly attractive. Often these are bogus schemes, whether it’s for a specialized product, holidays, or pyramid schemes that want you to part with your money.

KEEPING YOUR MONEY SAFE

If you’re an Internet user, please be aware of phishing scams that arrive in your inbox requesting money to be transferred. These scams are often under the disguise of ‘help’ from someone you may know, a lottery ‘win’ that needs your bank details or even ideas to ‘double or triple your money in months’.

Scammers often use several clever tactics to send convincing and well-disguised emails to convince receivers to send money by threats or even evoking sympathy for a charitable cause. Some of the most common phishing methods include the following:

• Using fake URLS that look accurate – pay attention to spelling errors
• Emails that are fear-based or ‘urgent’
• Using names of real companies and copying their logo and signature
• Using names of friends and colleagues in help-related emails for charitable causes or to get them out of tricky situations.

If the email is personal in nature and is from someone you know, always confirm with the person first before taking any further action. If the email seems to be from your bank or any financial institution you deal with, call them to validate it before sending anything. Often scammers mimic or disguise the email id so it seems like it is from the bank so it’s best to be safe and pay attention and make that call to protect your money. Also, remember; always be aware when you click any links.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF ONLINE

Do not respond to emails that request personal financial information

With emails, remain sharp and aware that banks and other financial organizations will not ask you for personal information in an email. If you receive such an email and it looks legitimate, always check with your bank first. If you receive any email asking you to ‘update your account details’ or ‘verify your information because your account details were stolen’, exercise caution and call the bank first.

Be careful when you download

We’re often tempted by attractive offers or schemes – be careful when downloading or opening attachments as files can trigger a virus and your information can get stolen.

Type in the URL in the address bar

Instead of using links, type the bank or company URL in the address bar, as sometimes clicking on links will redirect you to a fake address. Make a practice of always typing in the URLs so you will memorize the accurate web address and not rely on links.

Regularly check your accounts

Maintain an awareness of the financial activity in your bank accounts and make a habit of regularly checking them. Report any suspicious or uncertain transactions to your bank account or credit card firm.

Always verify the web address

For any financial website that enables you to log in, ensure the URLs always start with “https://” as the ‘s’ stands for security. If you make purchases online, again ensure the web address of the online retailer starts with https:// and has a ‘lock’ icon on the status bar to ensure your details remain encrypted.

Set online transaction limit

It is also a good idea to set a ‘transaction limit’ with your credit card provider for every purchase online as this limits your exposure as it prohibits transactions beyond the limit. Check with them to see if they offer this service.

Enable SMS notifications

If your bank or credit card provider offers SMS notifications for every transaction, enable it as you can keep tabs if your card has been stolen or misused. If you notice any suspicious transactions, call your bank immediately to block the card.

A few general precautions include:-

• Never write down your PIN codes anywhere they can be easily found
• Do not give your PIN codes to anyone
• Do not use the same online password for all your bank accounts. Create unique passwords
• Change your bank account passwords frequently to ensure the safety of your account.
• Do not let strangers access your computer and ensure it remains in a safe place at all times.
• Do not ‘save’ passwords on your browser as much as possible.
• Install anti-virus software to ensure your computer stays up to date on the security front.