Fake Wise Customer Service Chatbot Scam
Criminals deploy fake Wise support chatbots on lookalike domains to steal login credentials and verification codes from users seeking help with transfers.
Part of: Fake Customer-Service Chatbots
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
Wise has a support chat accessible through its website and app that handles queries about transfers, exchange rates, account verification, and regulatory holds. Because international transfers can be complex, Wise users often search online for support when a transfer is delayed or an account appears restricted.
Scammers target this behaviour by placing lookalike Wise support sites in paid search results. The fake chat is scripted to mirror real Wise support interactions — asking about the transfer amount, destination country, and purpose — before requesting login credentials and a verification code to 'look up the account.'
Wise's cross-border nature makes the chat feel more plausible: users are often genuinely confused about why a transfer was held and may be grateful for any agent who appears to understand the process.
How this scam works on the Wise brand
A user's international Wise transfer is delayed. They search for 'Wise transfer on hold support' and click a paid result leading to wise-help-centre.com. A chat window opens with an agent who correctly identifies the types of reasons Wise transfers are held — compliance checks, identity verification, recipient bank issues — and says they can escalate the matter.
The agent asks the user to log in through the chat page for 'account authentication.' After entering email and password, the user is shown a progress spinner while the scammer logs in to the real Wise account. When the real Wise sends an OTP, the chat asks the user to enter the 'account verification code just sent to your device.' This completes the real-time relay and the scammer gains full account access.
With access, the scammer cancels legitimate pending transfers (converting the amounts back to the account balance), then initiates new transfers to accounts they control.
Common red flags
- You found the support page through a search ad rather than directly from wise.com.
- The URL is not wise.com.
- The chat agent asks for your Wise password.
- You are asked to enter an SMS or email code to 'authenticate' in the chat.
- Your actual Wise app shows a new login attempt from an unrecognised device.
- Pending transfers are cancelled or new transfers appear while you are chatting.
- The agent references knowledge of your transfer but cannot confirm the exact amount when you test them.
How to protect yourself
- Access Wise support only through wise.com/help or the in-app chat — never through a search ad link.
- Know that Wise support will never ask for your password or a live verification code in a chat.
- Enable Wise login notifications so you are alerted to any new device session.
- Use an authenticator app for Wise two-factor authentication — it is harder to intercept than SMS.
- Bookmark wise.com and use the bookmark every time.
How to report it
- Report the phishing site to [email protected].
- Contact Wise in-app to secure your account if credentials were entered.
- Report to Action Fraud (UK) at actionfraud.police.uk.
- Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- File with ic3.gov if funds were transferred.
Frequently asked questions
Why might a Wise transfer be delayed legitimately?
Wise transfers may be delayed for identity verification, compliance checks, recipient bank processing times, or currency conversion windows. Wise communicates all such holds through the app and to your registered email. A chat page you found via search should not be your first recourse.
How do I find the real Wise support chat?
Log in to the Wise app or navigate to wise.com, go to Help, and initiate a chat from within the authenticated session. The chat will not ask for your password because you are already authenticated.
My transfer was cancelled while I was in the fake chat. Can it be recovered?
Contact Wise immediately through the in-app chat to report account takeover. Wise may be able to recall in-progress transfers. Act within minutes — international transfers can settle quickly.