
SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years

Push Payment Scams Are One Of The Fastest Growing Types Of Relationship Scams
What Are Push Payment Scams?
Push payment scams, also known as authorized push payment (APP) scams or bank transfer scams, are a type of fraud where individuals or businesses are tricked into authorizing and sending money to scammers. These scams typically involve social engineering techniques to manipulate victims into believing they are making a legitimate payment, often targeting individuals who use online banking or make electronic transfers.
Push payment scams involve fraudsters convincing victims into sending money to them by impersonating genuine payees (such as suppliers, contractors or even employees).
They typically create a sense of urgency around sending the funds immediately via electronic banking methods, such as Faster Payments Service, BACS/CHAPS, SWIFT Bank Wire Transfer, Direct Debit, Venmo, Zelle, Standing Order, CashApp, and others.
Once the funds have been sent, they cannot be retrieved from the recipient’s account since most banks consider these transactions irretrievable or “irrevocably cleared”.
To prevent becoming a victim of a push payment scam, always verify the authenticity of the request before making any transfer – double check the sender’s contact details match those already held for that entity, ensure the payment amount matches the expected value, and check if there is any reason why payment should need to occur so quickly without proper validation checks already having taken place prior.
How Push Payment Scams/Fraud Work
Here’s how a typical push payment scam may unfold:
- Initial Contact:
Scammers may reach out to victims via various channels, including phone calls, emails, text messages, or even through social media platforms. They often pose as trusted entities such as banks, government agencies, or legitimate businesses. - Building Trust:
Scammers employ various tactics to gain the victim’s trust. They may use sophisticated techniques, such as spoofing phone numbers or email addresses to make it appear as if they are contacting the victim from a reputable source. They might also impersonate someone the victim knows or use personal information obtained through previous data breaches to establish credibility. - Manipulation and Urgency:
Scammers create a sense of urgency or exploit emotions to pressure victims into acting quickly. They may claim that the victim’s account has been compromised, that they owe money, or that they are entitled to a large sum of money. By using persuasive language, they aim to convince victims to make a payment immediately without thoroughly verifying the request. - Payment Instructions:
Once the scammer has gained the victim’s trust and convinced them of the urgency, they provide instructions on how to make the payment. This often involves instructing the victim to transfer funds to a specific bank account, often one controlled by the scammer. They may provide plausible reasons for using an alternative account, such as a temporary technical issue with their usual account. - Victim Initiates Payment:
Believing the request to be genuine, the victim initiates the bank transfer or payment through online banking, wire transfer, or other electronic payment methods. The victim willingly authorizes the transaction, unaware that they are sending money to a scammer. - Loss and Realization:
After the victim realizes they have fallen victim to a scam, it is often too late to recover the funds. Scammers quickly move the funds out of the receiving account, making it difficult to trace or retrieve the money. Victims may face financial losses and emotional distress as a result.
It is important to note that push payment scams exploit the trust and cooperation of the victim, as they willingly authorize the payments. Consequently, recovering the funds can be challenging, and prevention and awareness are crucial in combating these scams.
Each type of relationship scam that results in an authorized push payment will have its own lures, stories, and grooming style. Look for the specific type of scam for more details.
Do You Need Support?
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Our managed peer support groups allow victims to talk to other survivors and recover in the most experienced environment possible, for as long as they need. Recovery takes as long as it takes – we put no limits on our support!
SCARS is the most trusted support & education provider in the world. Our team is certified in trauma-informed care, grief counseling, and so much more!
To apply to join our groups visit support.AgainstScams.org
We also offer separate support groups for family & friends too.
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Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- Enroll in FREE SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.
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