Is a buy-now-pay-later offer from a brand I have never heard of safe?
Not necessarily. Fake BNPL services harvest payment details upfront and never deliver goods or credit.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Explanation
Buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) fraud works in two ways. First, a fake online store offers BNPL checkout powered by an unknown 'fintech', collects your details, and neither delivers the goods nor processes legitimate credit. Second, a genuine-looking BNPL brand runs sponsored ads redirecting to a cloned checkout where your bank details are stolen. Legitimate BNPL providers such as Klarna, Clearpay, or Afterpay are integrated into established retailers and are regulated financial services. They do not solicit you by cold email or social media ad, and they will never ask for your full debit card PIN as part of sign-up. Before using any BNPL at checkout, verify the provider is authorised by your country's financial regulator and that the retailer itself is genuine.
Common red flags
- BNPL brand you cannot find on a financial regulator's register
- Request for your full card PIN during sign-up
- Checkout reached via a social media ad rather than a known retailer
- No physical address or customer service contact for the BNPL provider
- Charges or fees before any purchase is made
What to do now
- Check the BNPL provider on your country's financial regulator website
- Search the retailer independently before completing checkout
- Use a credit card with chargeback rights if you are unsure
- Report suspicious BNPL schemes to your financial regulator
Frequently asked questions
Can I get my money back if BNPL was used fraudulently?
If a criminal opened a BNPL account in your name, contact the provider immediately and report it to your bank and the police. Dispute any charges and place a fraud alert on your credit file.