What is a “proof of payment” scam?
“Proof of payment” scam is a common method scammers use to trick users into releasing their crypto in P2P trading. It typically involves scammers sending fake proof of payment records to users, such as fake bank transfer screenshots, and claiming that they have already transferred the funds. Scammers would then urge users to release their crypto immediately without giving users any time to verify that they have received the funds in their accounts.
Here are some examples of fake proof of payment records:
How to avoid proof of payment scams?
Never be pressured to release crypto, regardless of who requests the release. Only release crypto if you confirm that the funds have arrived in your account. If you suspect the counterparty is a scammer, please report them to the Customer Support team immediately.
Before releasing crypto, we recommend following the steps below to protect yourself:
- Check the transfer records provided by your counterparty carefully. Fraudulent records may, for example, consist of spelling mistakes, text that is not properly aligned, different fonts, etc.
- Do not release crypto solely based on the screenshots your counterparty sent. Always log in to your bank account or wallet to confirm that you have received the correct amount of funds from the counterparty.
- In case you cannot log in to your bank account or wallet to verify the payment, do not release the crypto, even if the counterparty pressures you to release the crypto.