Key takeaways
- Never release goods or services because of a text message or screenshot alone.
- Confirm money in your own bank or payment app before you hand anything over.
- Be careful with customers who rush you or “accidentally” overpay.
The short answer
Small sellers, shops, event organisers and studios are common targets of payment tricks. A buyer shows a message or a receipt that says the money has been sent, takes the goods or the service and leaves. The money never arrives. The solution is simple: only believe your own account. This guide explains the common tricks and the habits that stop them.
Common tricks
| Trick | How it works |
|---|---|
| Fake alert message | A text that looks like a bank credit notice, sent from an unfamiliar number or made to look official |
| Edited receipt or screenshot | An image of a transfer that was never completed, or has been altered |
| Fake transfer app | An app that imitates a bank transfer screen without sending any money |
| “Pending” transfer | The buyer claims the money is on its way and asks you to release the goods first |
| Overpayment and refund | The buyer “mistakenly” sends too much, or claims to, and asks you to return the difference before the first payment is reversed or proven false |
How to protect yourself
- Check your own account. Open your bank app, a statement or your payment dashboard, and confirm the money is there.
- Do not rely on SMS alerts alone. Messages can be faked, so verify in the app or on a statement.
- Wait for the balance to update, even if the buyer is in a hurry.
- Never refund an overpayment until you can see the full original payment has cleared and is final.
- Use secure payment links or a point-of-sale system where possible, so that confirmation comes from the payment provider.
- Keep records: names, numbers, times and screenshots, in case you need to report a problem.
Warning signs
- Pressure to hurry or to release goods before you check.
- The buyer refuses to wait for the payment to appear.
- A receipt with poor formatting, wrong names or an unusual transaction number.
- The buyer insists on a particular method that you do not use.
- Messages from unknown numbers claiming to be a bank.
Train your team
- Make a simple rule: no confirmed payment in the account, no release of goods.
- Teach staff to check the balance, not the screenshot.
- Keep a printed note beside the till or workspace to remind everyone.
- Make sure only trusted people can see and use the payment account. See security habits for small teams.
If you have been tricked
- Contact your bank or payment provider immediately and explain the situation.
- Gather evidence: messages, screenshots, phone numbers and any receipts.
- Report the incident to the police.
- Warn other sellers in your community or online group.
- Change your passwords and review your account security. See two-step verification compared.
Protect your own accounts
- Never share your PIN, password or one-time code with anyone.
- Be careful with links in messages that claim to be from your bank. See phishing emails and SMS scams.
- Read phishing and SIM swap fraud to understand how phone numbers can be misused.
Quick checklist
- Confirm payments in your own account
- Ignore alerts and screenshots as proof
- Wait for the balance to update
- Do not refund overpayments quickly
- Train everyone who handles payments
- Keep records and report fraud
Key points to remember
A calm “I will release it when I see the money in my account” protects your business from most payment tricks. Make that sentence your standard reply.
This guide is general information to help you decide and act with confidence. Features, prices and settings change, so confirm current details with your device maker or service provider before you act. Last reviewed October 2026. Read our editorial standards.
