In today’s digital-first economy, fraudsters are constantly evolving their tactics – from impersonated brands to urgent payment requests – scammers are constantly finding new ways to trick people out of their money or personal information.

The good news is: awareness is your best defence. By learning how scams work and what red flags to watch out for, you can stay one step ahead.

Below you’ll find a short guide on the most common types of scams, how to spot them, and what to do if you think you’re being targeted.

These are all names for the same strategy, which uses different communication channels in order to impersonate a known entity to get your personal or financial information.

Finom will never ask you to share your PINs, one-time codes, to provide your full card number or pressure you into making any transfers, especially not to any ‘safe account’.

We also do not provide phone support – we might call you, for example, for feedback, but we can securely verify ourselves by sending you an in-app chat message.

These are becoming increasingly common, especially when booking travel or shopping online. Scammers pretend to represent companies such as Airbnb, Booking.com, but also Etsy or Ebay.

A common scam scenario is claiming a card authorization, or card verification needs to be completed in order for the payment to be successful or for your account with the merchant to be verified.

They’ll say the charge won’t go through, but ask for €200 or more as a temporary hold. However, it’s worth keeping in mind card verification charges are usually for low amounts, such as €1 or even €0.

Another scenario to watch out for is a request to approve a payment that doesn’t match the expected context. For example, if you’re booking a holiday property and the app prompts you to approve a transaction to a cryptocurrency platform or other unexpected merchant, it’s worth taking the time to investigate and confirm before approving the charge.

Scammers know that every business wants to save money, and they exploit this by offering very attractive deals. It might be a discounted software subscription, a travel booking at a fraction of the usual cost, or access to a premium service “at 80% off, today only.”

But remember: if the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Fraudsters use attractive pricing to override your usual caution and prompt a quick payment. Once funds are sent, the platform disappears, the website vanishes, or the service never arrives.

These deals are especially attractive, as you’ll often see them on big marketplaces (Facebook, Instagram) or while trying to buy fancy art objects for your office through Etsy.

Scam emails often use names and logos that look convincing, but the actual sender email address might be a giveaway.

Double-checking the sender’s email address and comparing it to the official contact information listed on the company’s website takes only a minute, but could protect you from financial loss. The same principle can be applied to the website you’re purchasing from – fraudsters often create websites that look like the real thing at first glance, with familiar branding and layouts. But if you have a closer look at the URL, you’ll spot something’s off – there might be a misspelling in the brand name that’s easy to miss.

Take a moment to read what you’re approving in your banking app. Ask yourself:

Scammers often push you to act quickly, this is designed to bypass your usual caution – they rely on confusion, urgency, and trust. A genuine business or seller won’t mind waiting a few minutes while you double-check.

If you have any doubts, or you are unsure about some payment or suspicious contact, don’t hesitate to send a message to our Customer Care team from in-app chat or email us at [email protected]. We are always ready to help you!