Fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated — especially in the world of digital money transfers. Whether you’re sending money to family or making payments abroad, it’s important to stay one step ahead of the latest fraud and scam techniques.
This guide outlines the most common tactics scammers use, how they work, and what you can do to protect your NALA account and personal information.
🚨 Why scammers target cross-border payments
Cross-border transfers involve multiple parties — the sender, receiver, banks, and local payment partners. Scammers exploit this complexity by creating confusion and urgency, pretending to be from legitimate organisations (like NALA, your bank, or mobile money providers).
Their goal? To trick you into sharing personal information, approving fraudulent transfers, or installing malware that steals your credentials.
🧠 Common scam techniques in 2025
Below are the most common and emerging online scams that may target NALA users and other remittance senders:
1. Phishing (fake messages or emails)
Fraudsters send fake emails or texts that look like they’re from NALA or your bank.
They may claim:
“Your account is locked — click here to verify.”
“Unusual activity detected — log in to confirm.”
“You’ve received a transfer — confirm your details.”
These links lead to fake websites designed to steal your login credentials or card information.
How to stay safe:
Always check the sender’s email address.
NALA will never ask for your password, PIN, or OTP via email or text.
Access your account only through the official NALA app.
2. Authorised Push Payment (APP) Fraud
In this scam, you are tricked into authorising a payment to a fraudster yourself — often because you believe it’s going to a legitimate recipient.
Example:
A scammer pretends to be your family member or a business contact requesting an urgent payment. Once sent, the funds go straight into the scammer’s account.
How to stay safe:
Always verify requests for money using a separate trusted contact method.
Never make payments under pressure or urgency.
Double-check recipient details in the NALA app before sending.
3. Romance scams
Scammers build emotional relationships online — often over weeks or months — before requesting money for “emergencies,” “flights,” or “medical bills.”
How to stay safe:
Never send money to someone you’ve never met in person.
Be cautious if someone you meet online quickly asks for financial help.
Report suspicious profiles or requests immediately.
4. Investment and Job scams
These scams promise high returns or remote job offers in exchange for an upfront “processing fee” or personal details.
How to stay safe:
Be skeptical of guaranteed profits or jobs that require upfront payments.
Research companies independently before transferring money.
Avoid sharing your NALA transaction history or identity documents online.
5. Money Muling
Fraudsters may ask you to receive money into your account and send it elsewhere “as a favour.” This is a criminal activity — even if you don’t realise it.
How to stay safe:
Never agree to move money for someone you don’t know personally.
Decline any “commission” offers to forward payments.
Report suspicious requests to NALA immediately.
6. Device Takeover scams
Scammers may trick you into installing remote access apps that give them control of your device.
How to stay safe:
Never download apps or grant remote access to your phone unless from verified support staff (NALA will never request this).
Keep your device software up to date and use biometric login for NALA.
7. Impersonation scams
Scammers pretend to be customer support agents, financial institutions, or even friends. They may use stolen logos, social media profiles, or fake numbers to appear legitimate.
How to stay safe:
Contact NALA only through official channels:
In-app chat
Verified social media handles
Do not trust random phone numbers or DMs claiming to be “NALA Helpdesk.”
🧩 How NALA keeps you safe
NALA uses advanced fraud detection systems, encryption, and 3D Secure (3DS) card verification to protect every transaction. But your vigilance plays a crucial role too — fraud prevention is strongest when we work together.
⚠️ What to do if you suspect fraud
If you suspect that you’ve received a suspicious message, link, or transaction request:
Stop engaging immediately.
Do not click any links or share personal information.
Report it via in-app chat or email support@nala.com or mamanala@nala.money
If you’ve already sent money, contact NALA immediately for assistance.
Our team will help you secure your account and investigate the issue promptly.