Fake Wise Transfer Cancellation Refund Scam
Scammers impersonating Wise contact account holders claiming a recently sent transfer can be cancelled and refunded, then guide them through steps that actually initiate a new outgoing transfer rather than receiving a refund.
Part of: Fake Cancellation & Refund Scams
Last reviewed: 7 June 2026
Wise's international transfers are typically fast but not always instant — there is sometimes a window during which a transfer is being processed. Scammers exploit this with a fabricated cancellation-and-refund offer: they contact the victim claiming that a pending transfer can still be cancelled and the funds returned, but that the victim must follow specific steps to initiate the refund.
The contact often follows a genuine Wise transfer that the victim recently made, targeting people who have just sent money internationally. Scammers may learn of recent transfers through phishing attacks that provided account access, or through social-media posts where users mention sending money. The timing makes the offer feel credible and relevant.
The 'steps to receive the refund' guide the victim to initiate a new outgoing Wise transfer — either to a different account as a 'verification transfer' or through a screen-sharing session where the attacker directly navigates the Wise app. In both cases, the victim ends up sending more money out rather than receiving any back.
How this scam works on the Wise brand
Real Wise transfer cancellations — where possible — are handled entirely through the Wise app or web portal. The account holder navigates to the pending transfer and, if it is still in the cancellation window, selects the cancel option. The refund is credited back automatically — no additional transfer, verification payment, or external step is required.
The fake Wise agent's instruction to 'send a verification payment' or 'initiate a transfer to your recovery wallet' has no basis in Wise's real cancellation process. It exists only to extract a new payment from the victim.
Screen-sharing variants are especially dangerous because the attacker — claiming to walk the victim through the refund — takes control of the Wise session and executes the outgoing transfer directly. The victim watches but may not fully understand what is happening until the transfer is confirmed.
Common red flags
- An unexpected contact from 'Wise support' about cancelling a transfer you recently made
- Instructions to make a verification payment or send money to a recovery wallet to receive a refund
- A request to share your screen or install remote-access software to process the cancellation
- The contact arrived via phone, WhatsApp, or social media rather than in-app chat
- The 'agent' cannot show the cancellation option within the Wise app independently
- A sense of urgency: 'You must initiate the refund within 10 minutes or the window closes'
- After following instructions, your Wise balance has decreased rather than increased
How to protect yourself
- Check transfer cancellation status directly in the Wise app — it shows clearly if cancellation is available
- Contact Wise support through in-app chat only — not via phone, WhatsApp, or social media
- Never make an outgoing payment as part of a 'refund process' — refunds require no outgoing payment
- Decline any request to share your screen for a Wise cancellation or refund
- Review your Wise transfer history immediately if you believe a fraudulent outgoing transfer was made
- Report the contact to Wise through in-app chat and cancel any pending fraudulent transfer if still possible
- Report to your national fraud reporting service even if no financial loss occurred
How to report it
- Report through Wise in-app chat at wise.com/help
- Forward the fraudulent contact details to [email protected]
- If a transfer was made, contact Wise immediately to attempt a recall
- Report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk (UK) or the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov (US)
- Report to the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov if financial loss occurred
Frequently asked questions
Can I cancel a Wise transfer after it has been sent?
Wise allows cancellations for some transfers while they are still processing. Check the transfer in the Wise app — if a cancel option is available, it will appear there. The cancellation is handled within the app with no external steps required.
Does a Wise refund require me to send money first?
No. A Wise transfer cancellation returns funds to your Wise balance automatically. No outgoing payment, verification transfer, or fee is ever required to process a refund. Any instruction to make an outgoing payment to receive a refund is fraudulent.
How do I know if a contact claiming to be from Wise is genuine?
Genuine Wise support is delivered through in-app chat. If a contact arrives via phone call, WhatsApp, email from a non-wise.com address, or social media, treat it with extreme caution. When in doubt, contact Wise through the app to verify.