Fraud and Scam Warning

1. Immediate warning signs

Pause the transaction if someone:

• demands urgent payment;
• asks you to keep the payment secret;
• tells you not to speak to your bank, Kingscross or family;
• asks you to misdescribe the purpose of the payment;
• asks you to split a payment into smaller amounts;
• changes bank or wallet details at the last moment;
• asks you to share an OTP, password, PIN or security code;
• promises intended returns or unusually high profits;
• claims your money is at risk unless you move it immediately;
• asks you to receive and forward money for someone else.

2. What Kingscross will never ask you to do

Kingscross will never ask you to:

• share your password or full OTP code;
• send money to an employee’s or agent’s personal account;
• move funds to a supposed “safe account”;
• hide the true purpose of a transaction;
• ignore a fraud or security warning;
• install unknown software to allow remote access to your device;
• send identity documents through an unapproved personal messaging account;
• pay a fee to release a prize, lottery, inheritance or government grant.

3. Kingscross impersonation scams

Fraudsters may copy the Kingscross name, logo, website appearance, email style or staff names.

They may contact you through:

• fake email addresses;
• spoofed telephone numbers;
• social-media accounts;
• messaging applications;
• fake websites or payment links.

Verify unusual requests using a contact method published on the Kingscross website. Do not rely only on the contact details contained in the suspicious message.

4. “Safe account” scams

A fraudster may pretend to be from a bank, regulator, police service or payment company and tell you that your money is under threat.

You may be instructed to transfer funds to a “safe”, “secure” or “temporary” account. Legitimate financial institutions do not protect customer money by asking customers to move it to an unknown personal account.

5. Invoice and business-payment fraud

Fraudsters may compromise or imitate a supplier’s email and send new bank details.

Business customers should:

• verify new payment instructions using a trusted telephone number;
• confirm changes with a known supplier contact;
• use dual approval for changes to beneficiary details;
• compare the beneficiary name, country and bank with the commercial relationship;
• be cautious where a supplier suddenly requests payment to a different country;
• retain invoices, contracts and approval records.

6. Investment, cryptocurrency and trading scams

Scammers may advertise intended profits, insider access, automated trading, property opportunities, commodities, cryptocurrency or foreign-exchange investments.

Warning signs include:

• intended or risk-free returns;
• pressure to invest immediately;
• fake dashboards showing profits;
• requests for repeated “tax”, “withdrawal” or “release” fees;
• payment to unrelated individuals or companies;
• instructions to misdescribe the transaction purpose.

7. Romance and relationship scams

A scammer may build trust over weeks or months before asking for money for travel, medical costs, customs fees, legal problems, business emergencies or family needs.

Be cautious where you have never met the person, stories change, video calls are avoided or payment is requested to another person’s account.

8. Family-emergency and impersonation scams

Fraudsters may pretend to be a relative, friend, lawyer, doctor or police officer and claim there has been an emergency.

Before paying, contact the relative directly using a known telephone number and ask a question only they would know.

9. Online purchase and marketplace scams

Be cautious where a seller:

• offers a price far below market value;
• refuses secure payment methods;
• asks for full payment before inspection;
• uses copied photographs or documents;
• demands payment to an unrelated person;
• creates urgency or claims many other buyers are waiting.

10. Job, loan, grant and prize scams

Legitimate employers, lenders or public bodies do not normally require payment to release wages, approve a job, issue a grant, unlock a loan or collect a prize.

Do not send money for:

• recruitment or visa processing to an unverified recipient;
• advance loan-release fees;
• lottery or prize taxes;
• government grants offered through unofficial channels;
• fake training, equipment or registration costs.

11. Charity and donation scams

Scammers may exploit disasters, illness, conflict or personal tragedy.

Verify the charity’s registration, official website, bank details and contact information before donating.

12. Account takeover and phishing

Phishing messages may ask you to click a link, confirm a login, update details or unlock an account.

Do not use a link in an unexpected message. Open the Kingscross website directly and check the address carefully.

13. OTP, password and device security

• Never share an OTP or password.
• Use a strong and unique password.
• Do not approve a login you did not initiate.
• Keep your email account and phone number secure.
• Do not allow remote access to your device unless you independently verified the provider.
• Report a lost or stolen device immediately.

14. Money-mule activity

A money mule receives, holds or transfers money for another person, often in return for a fee.

Do not allow anyone to use your bank account, wallet or Kingscross account to receive and forward funds. You may become involved in fraud or money laundering even if you did not understand the full scheme.

15. Agent and employee misconduct

Customers should report any agent or employee who:

• asks for payment to a personal account or wallet;
• charges an undisclosed fee;
• asks to keep a transaction secret;
• requests a password or OTP;
• changes the stated exchange rate without explanation;
• refuses to provide an official receipt;
• asks the customer to provide false information.

16. Fraud controls for business customers

Business customers should consider:

• maker-checker approval;
• beneficiary whitelisting;
• independent callback for changed payment details;
• transaction limits;
• segregation of duties;
• secure supplier-master-data changes;
• regular review of authorised persons;
• staff fraud-awareness training.

17. Checks before sending money

Before confirming a transaction:

1. verify the recipient’s identity;
2. confirm the account, wallet or card details;
3. check the reason for payment;
4. confirm changes using a trusted contact method;
5. consider whether the request is urgent, secret or unusual;
6. ask Kingscross for help if you are uncertain.

18. What to do if you suspect fraud

Act immediately:

1. stop communicating with the suspected fraudster;
2. do not send further money;
3. contact Kingscross immediately;
4. contact your bank, card issuer or mobile-money provider;
5. change compromised passwords;
6. preserve messages, receipts and screenshots;
7. report the matter to the appropriate authority where necessary.

19. Recovery limits

Kingscross may try to hold, trace, recall or recover funds, but recovery is not intended.

Recovery may be impossible where:

• the beneficiary has already withdrawn or moved the funds;
• the transaction is irreversible;
• the bank or wallet is outside Kingscross’s control;
• false beneficiary details were supplied;
• the payment passed through multiple institutions;
• legal or regulatory restrictions apply.

20. What Kingscross may do when fraud is suspected

Kingscross may:

• pause or reject a transaction;
• request additional verification;
• contact the customer through verified details;
• restrict account access;
• contact banks, mobile operators or payment partners;
• preserve evidence and audit logs;
• make a lawful report to a competent authority;
• decline to disclose information where law prevents disclosure.

21. Reporting and information sharing

Kingscross may share information with banks, payment partners, mobile-money operators, regulators, law-enforcement agencies, courts and other competent authorities where lawful and necessary to prevent, investigate or report fraud.

22. Evidence to keep

Keep:

• transaction and quote references;
• receipts and payment confirmations;
• emails and messages;
• telephone numbers and account details;
• screenshots;
• invoices and contracts;
• dates, times and names of persons involved.

23. Quick fraud checklist

24. Contact details