Don't be caught off-guard when it comes to scams. Scammers pressure you to wire money to them because it’s easy to take YOUR money and disappear. Wiring money is like sending cash — once it’s gone, you probably can’t get it back. Never wire money to a stranger — no matter the reason they give.
Scammers know that:
- Once you wire money to them, there’s usually no way to get your money back
- They can pick up your money at any of the wire transfer company’s locations
- It’s nearly impossible to identify who picked up the money, or track them down
Never wire money to:
- Anyone you haven’t met in person
- Anyone who says they work at a government agency like the IRS, SSA or a well-known company
- Anyone who pressures you into paying immediately
- Anyone who says a wire transfer is the only way you can pay
Also never wire money to someone who tries to sell you something over the phone. It’s illegal for a telemarketer to ask you to pay with a wire transfer. — FTC Consumer News