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Scam Advice (Mobile Money Abuse)

Scam Advice (Mobile Money Abuse)

Mobile money abuse

Mobile money services let you hold and transfer funds through an account linked to your phone. Some also use agents for deposits and withdrawals. Scammers exploit that trust. They may pose as an agent, claim they sent you money by mistake or offer a bonus that requires you to pay first.

The setup

The setup

A fake agent or false transfer

Impersonating a mobile money agent or provider.
‘I sent you money by mistake. Please send it back.’
The hook

The hook

A pin request

Real agents never need your PIN.

‘Read me the confirmation code to reverse the transfer.’
The goal

The goal

Drain the wallet

Once they have your PIN code, funds move fast.


The refund request was really a request for account access.
An infographic explains mobile money scams, featuring a central mobile phone screen showing a fake “wrong payment” message on the left and security tips like “never share your PIN” on the right. Below, three red flag indicators are listed, whilst the bottom highlights protecting your wallet.

How mobile money abuse works

Scammers rely on urgency and trust. They create time pressure so you act before verifying, and they impersonate a sender you’d normally trust without a second thought.

How to protect yourself

  • Never share your mobile money PIN or one-time code with anyone, including agents or ‘customer service’
  • Verify any ‘sent by mistake’ claim directly with your provider before sending anything back
  • Be cautious of promotions or bonuses that require you to send money first

National fraud reporting bodies

Action Fraud – report phishing to NCSC

The logo shows a black UK royal coat of arms on the left and the words “National Cyber Security Centre” in black text on the right, all on a light grey background, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to combating threats such as phishing, vishing and smishing.

FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov) | FCC

The image shows the U.S. Federal Trade Commission seal on the left and the text “Federal Trade Commission ReportFraud.ftc.gov” on the right, against a light grey background. The seal features balanced scales, stars, and an eagle—a reminder to report online scams such as phishing, vishing, and smishing to protect yourself and others.

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

The image shows the Canadian flag—a red maple leaf between two red bars—beside the words “Government of Canada” in bold black letters on a light grey background, often seen in official communications warning about online threats such as phishing, vishing and smishing.
Australia

Scamwatch (ACCC)

Australian Government logo beside ScamWatch logo and text: “ScamWatch. Stop. Better safe than scammed.” Both logos are on a light grey background with simple blue and orange colour accents, reminding Australians to stay alert against phishing, vishing, and smishing scams.
European Union

Your national CERT or police cybercrime unit

ENISA logo with blue EU flag and stars forming a semicircle around red “enisa” text. To the right, grey text reads “European Union Agency for Cybersecurity.” White background. ENISA plays a key role in protecting against cyber threats such as phishing, vishing, and smishing.

Mobile network operators

If you think you’ve been targeted by a scam, tell your mobile operator. Reports help operators protect you and other customers. Always contact them through their official website or app, never through links or numbers in a suspicious message. The operators below are examples only, not a complete list. Your operator will explain how to report the scam and what to do next.

EE, O2, Vodafone & Three – forward scam texts free to 7726

Report text, email or phone fraud directly

The image shows the Ofcom logo with “Ofcom” in bold pink-red letters above a horizontal line featuring navy, green, orange, purple, and pink segments, all set against a light grey background—a familiar emblem often seen in campaigns raising awareness about scams such as phishing, vishing and smishing.
A black and white graphic of a laptop screen displaying the words “Report Fraud.” The letter “o” in “Report” is stylised as a pie chart, serving as a subtle reminder to be vigilant against modern threats like phishing, vishing, and smishing. The background is plain and light grey.

Report text, email or phone fraud directly

The image shows the AT&T logo: a blue and white globe with curved stripes on the left and the black letters “AT&T” in bold sans-serif font on the right, all on a light grey background—often recognised in campaigns raising awareness about scams such as phishing, vishing, and smishing.

Forward suspicious texts claiming to be Verizon

The image shows the Verizon logo with the word “verizon” in lowercase, bold red letters on a white background. The “v” has a gradient with orange and yellow hues, adding a vibrant touch to the design—perfect for raising awareness around digital threats such as phishing, vishing, and smishing.

Scam Shield – report scams and spam

T-Mobile logo on a light grey background, featuring a bold magenta “T” symbol on the left and the word “Mobile” in magenta text on the right, using a serif font with a capital “M” and the rest of the letters in lowercase—a trusted icon often seen in communications warning customers about threats like phishing, vishing, and smishing.