Fake Wise Chargeback Trap Scam
Criminals exploit Wise's international payment infrastructure and mimic Wise dispute emails to confuse sellers into giving refunds outside the official process, enabling double recovery.
Part of: Chargeback Traps
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
Wise (formerly TransferWise) is a widely used international money-transfer service that processes payments in local currencies. Its cross-border nature introduces complexity that scammers exploit: a buyer pays via Wise, receives goods, then raises a dispute with their local bank or card issuer under consumer-protection law. Because the payment crossed borders, the reversal process can take weeks, during which the scammer sends fake Wise dispute emails to stall the seller.
The fake emails closely resemble Wise's genuine transaction and dispute notifications. They instruct the seller to issue a refund directly — bypassing Wise's own dispute centre — under the guise of settling the matter faster and preventing an 'international escalation' that would supposedly freeze both parties' accounts.
Sellers who follow this instruction lose both the goods and the money: the direct refund leaves their account immediately, and the bank-initiated reversal may also succeed later.
How this scam works on the Wise brand
A seller receives a Wise payment for exported goods. After delivery, the buyer files a dispute with their local bank claiming the goods were defective. Simultaneously, the seller receives an email from dispute-wise.com (or similar) explaining that Wise is investigating and asking the seller to confirm receipt of the original payment and agree to a 'voluntary resolution deposit' to prevent their Wise account from being suspended.
The deposit — framed as temporary security — is to be sent to a Wise account the scammer controls. Once sent, it is withdrawn immediately. The real bank chargeback is also processed, costing the seller a second time.
A simpler variant targets buyers: a fake Wise email claims a purchase was disputed by the merchant and the buyer must return the 'sent funds' to a different Wise account to resolve the matter before the dispute window closes.
Common red flags
- An email about a Wise dispute arrives from a domain other than wise.com.
- The email asks you to transfer funds to a Wise account outside the platform's official dispute process.
- You receive conflicting messages — one from the real Wise and one that looks similar but from a different domain.
- The 'dispute resolution' step requires a security deposit paid to an account you have never transacted with.
- Urgency: the email claims your Wise account will be frozen unless you act within hours.
- The buyer disputes an item immediately after delivery and a 'Wise support' email appears the same day.
- The email asks for your Wise account login to 'verify' your identity.
How to protect yourself
- Manage all Wise disputes through the official Wise app or wise.com — never through email links or external instructions.
- Verify any dispute email by logging in to your Wise account directly and checking the Transfers and Help sections.
- For high-value international sales, require documentary confirmation of the buyer's identity before shipping.
- Keep shipping and delivery documentation as evidence — it is critical in cross-border disputes.
- Contact Wise support directly at wise.com/help if you receive a suspicious dispute communication.
How to report it
- Report phishing emails to [email protected].
- Report through the Wise app: Help > Report a problem.
- File with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- Report to Action Fraud (UK) at actionfraud.police.uk if you are a UK user.
- File with ic3.gov if significant international funds were lost.
Frequently asked questions
Does Wise have a formal dispute process?
Yes. Wise has a disputes and claims process accessible through the app and website. You are never required to send additional funds to a third account to participate in it.
Can a Wise payment be reversed by the sender's bank?
If the sender funded their Wise transfer from a credit or debit card, their card issuer can in some cases initiate a chargeback. This is rare but does happen, and it is one reason to use Wise's goods-protection options where available.
What should I do if I transferred money to the scammer's dispute-resolution account?
Report it immediately to Wise through the app and to your local fraud reporting authority. Wise may be able to freeze the receiving account if you act quickly.