GOOGLE warns smartphone owners about “money-transfer” scams.
They can raid your bank in seconds – and there are two different ways it can happen.
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Google has issued a memo warning users against using money transfers for sales.
This is where you receive cash directly – using a service like Google Pay – from a buyer.
This could happen on a website, forum or chat app.
Google says that there are at least two ways criminals will empty your account.
First, there is the scam of “failure-to-pay” money transfers.
“For example, if you’re selling something, a scammer may contact you posing as an interested potential buyer,” Google warned.
“When you agree on a price, they may state that they’ll pay you using a money transfer as soon as they receive what you’re selling.
“Then, after they receive what you’ve sold them, they never pay for it.”
You may find it difficult to retrieve your money in this situation.
You should also be on the lookout for scams that use “request” instead of “send”.
Google explained that if you are trying to sell something, you may receive a call from a fraudster pretending to be a potential customer.
When you and the customer agree to a price they might ask you for a transfer of money.
Then they ask for money and try to fool you into paying.
You can avoid the scam by remembering that most people don’t need to act to receive their money.
And if you do, take a few extra seconds to check that you’re approving the receipt of money – and not actually send cash to scammers.