The payment can be instant. Your check must come first. Download the complete Week 23 guide for realistic scam scenarios, a five-check safety system and a printable transfer safety card.
Understand the name–IBAN check
The guide explains Verification of Payee and its possible responses. A matching name and account identifier does not establish that an invoice is genuine or that a landlord has authority to rent a property. Independently confirm suspicious or changed details through a trusted channel.
Work through three scam tests
Use three fictional scenarios to practise checking a payment before sending it. Each example includes a safer action to take.
- A €2,400 contractor invoice with changed bank details.
- A €1,800 rental deposit requested before an in-person viewing.
- A €1 test transfer that only demonstrates that money may arrive.
Use the five-check system
Before a first payment or a change of bank details, check the recipient, IBAN, purpose, independent callback and confirmation record. If anything is unclear, pause the payment.
Print your transfer safety card
The PDF includes a worksheet to record who you intend to pay, where you checked the account details, the payment purpose and amount, the trusted contact channel and the confirmation date. Keep sensitive information secure.
Act quickly if money has already been sent
The final page sets out steps for contacting your bank, preserving evidence, securing compromised accounts and reporting suspected fraud. It also includes source notes and explains that recovery is not guaranteed.