It usually happens when the shop is busy. A customer picks up an item, says "I've sent it", and shows a transfer receipt on their phone. A second later your phone buzzes with a credit alert. You hand over the goods. Later, when you check your balance, the money isn't there.
Fake credit alerts are one of the most common scams against traders, POS operators and online sellers. They work because they copy exactly what a real payment looks like.
How the trick works
- Fake SMS alerts. Scammers use bulk SMS tools to send messages that copy your bank's alert format, sometimes including part of your account number and a realistic balance.
- Edited receipts and screenshots. Editing apps make it easy to produce a "successful transfer" screen for any amount.
- "Pending" transfers. The buyer insists the transfer is "processing" and pressures you to release the goods before it lands.
- "Wrong transfer" refunds. A stranger calls to say they paid you by mistake and asks you to send it back. There was no payment, or the payment was reversed.
The 3-step payment check
- Open your banking app (or USSD balance check) and confirm the credit is in your account balance, not just in your messages.
- Match the details: the amount, the sender's name and the time should all make sense.
- Only then release the goods. If the customer is in a hurry, that's their problem, not yours.
An SMS is a notification. It is not money. Only your balance is money.
For businesses with staff
- Make "check the app before release" a rule for everyone, including new staff and weekend cover.
- Give one trusted person access to confirm payments, and make sure they can be reached quickly.
- Consider a business account with instant notifications inside the banking app, which are harder to fake than SMS.
- Never refund a "wrong transfer" yourself. Ask the sender to contact their bank, which can reverse a genuine mistake properly.
If you've already been caught
Write down everything you can: the time, the phone number, any account numbers, the receipt and CCTV if you have it. Report it to your bank and to the police. Then warn nearby traders, because these scammers often work the same area for days.
Our course Recognising Everyday Threats covers fake alerts, vishing and other payment scams with hands-on exercises.