Will my bank ever ask me to move money to a 'Safe Account'?

Never. Banks will never ask you to move your money to another account to 'protect' it. If they suspect fraud, they will simply freeze your existing account.

How can I verify new bank details for a vendor?

Call them on a known, trusted phone number (not the one in the email) and speak to them directly to confirm the change before sending any funds.

What should I do if I think I've sent money to a scammer?

Immediately contact your bank's fraud department. Every minute counts. In many regions, there are protocols (like APP fraud rules) that might help you recover funds if you act fast.

Payment Safety

Verify bank transfers before you send.

Bank transfer and wire fraud are among the most damaging scams because once the money is sent, it is extremely difficult to recover. Scammers impersonate solicitors, real estate agents, or even your own bank's fraud department to trick you into moving large sums of money to their accounts.

Security Insight

A common tactic is the 'Safe Account' scam. Scammers call you pretending to be from your bank, claim your current account is compromised, and pressure you to move your savings to a 'new, secure account' which they actually control.

Identifies 'Safe Account' lures

Spots 'Invoice Manipulation' scams

Protects your Life Savings

Analyze a Transfer Request Wire Safety Guide

How to spot a Bank Transfer Scam

Legitimate bank transfers for major purchases (like a house or car) should always be verified using multiple channels. Watch out for these high-risk red flags.

The 'Safe Account' trap

A caller or message claiming your bank account is under attack and instructing you to move your money to a 'temporary safe account' provided by the 'Fraud Team'.

Sudden Account Detail changes

An email from a regular contact (like a lawyer or contractor) claiming their bank details have changed and providing new sort codes and account numbers for a pending payment.

Pressure to 'Bypass' Bank Warnings

Any request that asks you to lie to your bank about the purpose of a transfer or tells you to ignore the bank's automated fraud warnings.

Payment for 'Tax' or 'Legal Fees'

An urgent request to wire money to settle an 'unpaid tax' or 'legal fine' to avoid immediate arrest or court action. Government agencies never ask for wire transfers.

What IsThisSpam checks before you trust a sender

Quick verdicts are useful, but the real value is understanding why something looks safe, uncertain, or risky.

High-Pressure Urgency

Phrases like 'Transaction must be completed in 30 minutes' or 'Final warning before account closure' are used to prevent you from thinking clearly.

Inconsistent Branding

Emails about bank transfers that come from generic domains or use formatting that doesn't match your bank's official communication style.

Unusual Payee Names

The account number might be correct for a business, but the 'Payee Name' provided is a random individual or an unrelated holding company.

Requests for 'Screen Sharing'

If a 'bank representative' asks you to download software (like AnyDesk or TeamViewer) to 'help' you with a transfer, hang up immediately.

Related guides

Use the checker for the fast answer, then read the deeper guidance for recurring scam patterns.

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Analyze a Transfer Request Wire Safety Guide