Advance Fee Scams on Viber
How advance-fee fraudsters use Viber's free international messaging to target victims across borders with inheritance, lottery, and business-opportunity pretexts.
Part of: Advance Fee Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Viber's popularity in Eastern Europe, South Asia, and parts of Africa means scammers can reach targets in multiple jurisdictions at negligible cost. Advance-fee fraud operations have migrated to the platform because it provides a more personal feel than email — messages appear in the same interface as family and friend conversations, lending them an intimacy that lowers defences.
The free international call feature is particularly exploited: a scammer can follow up a text solicitation with a voice call that sounds local, reinforcing the credibility of a claim to be a lawyer, bank official, or government representative.
How this scam works on Viber
A Viber message arrives from an unknown number, presenting a detailed scenario: the sender is a bank officer or legal representative overseeing an unclaimed estate, a foreign lottery organisation, or a business partner seeking to move a large sum out of the country. The recipient is identified as a suitable beneficiary or business associate based on fabricated criteria.
Initial exchanges establish a backstory and build excitement about the prospective windfall. Requests for modest upfront payments are introduced incrementally — legal fees, bank-transfer taxes, courier charges for documents, or regulatory clearances. Each payment unlocks a new obstacle rather than releasing the promised funds, and the amounts requested gradually escalate.
Voice calls are interspersed with text messages to reinforce the illusion of a real business relationship and to prevent the victim from consulting others who might recognise the pattern.
Common red flags
- Unsolicited Viber message from an unknown international number announcing a financial windfall
- Elaborate backstory requiring upfront fees to release funds or claim a prize
- Each payment resolves one problem only to reveal a new fee requirement
- Requests for confidentiality: told not to discuss with family or a financial adviser
- Poor grammar or inconsistencies in official-looking documents shared during the correspondence
- The correspondent becomes defensive or threatening if the victim hesitates or questions the process
How to protect yourself
- Treat any unsolicited Viber message announcing a windfall as fraudulent by default
- Recognise that legitimate inheritances, prizes, and business transactions never require a recipient to pay fees upfront
- Do not allow the promise of large returns to justify small payments — each small fee is the actual theft mechanism
- Consult a trusted friend or adviser before engaging with any unusual financial proposal received via messaging app
- Block and report the number promptly if requests for payment arise
How to report it
- Block and report the Viber number using the in-app block and report options on the contact screen
- Report to your national consumer protection or fraud reporting body with screenshots of the conversation
- If money was transferred, contact your bank immediately and provide all evidence for investigation
Frequently asked questions
Why do advance-fee scammers use Viber instead of email?
Messaging platforms feel more personal and immediate than email, making the communication seem less like a mass-solicitation and more like a genuine personal contact. The free voice-call feature allows scammers to simulate local-sounding calls, adding another layer of apparent credibility.