At Wise, protecting your money is a top priority. Sometimes we may decline a transaction or ask additional questions before allowing a transaction. Here’s why that happens, how fraud works, and what you can do to stay safe.
Most common frauds and how to stay protected
Online payment fraud
What it means: Somebody uses your card details to make online purchases.
How it happens: A merchant you used in the past may have had a data breach, or their website may be infected with malware.
How to protect yourself:
Research new merchants before giving them your card number (a quick online search is often enough to check if they’re reputable).
Enable push notifications in the Wise app so you notice unusual activity right away.
Use a digital card for online payments.
Disable payment methods you don’t intend to use in Card controls.
Scams
What it means: You’re tricked into sending money under false pretenses.
Common examples: Impersonations of your bank, police, or the IRS; fake investment opportunities, romance scams, urgent payment requests. Learn more about common signs of scam
How to recognize a potential scam:
It offers a deal that’s too good to be true and creates fear of missing out (e.g. investments with guaranteed returns, online jobs with low effort and high pay).
It creates a sense of urgency (claiming your money is at risk or that the police/IRS are after you).
It appears as a social media advertisement claiming celebrity endorsement (e.g. Taylor Swift, Martin Lewis).
You’re contacted via WhatsApp or Telegram and asked to “confirm your card details,” often with references to recent reservations or deliveries.
You’re asked not to talk about it with friends or family.
Account takeover
What it means: A fraudster gains access to your Wise account.
How it happens: You fall victim to phishing and unknowingly give someone else access to your Wise account.
How to protect yourself:
Avoid clicking on links received via email or SMS, even if they look official.
Always check the sender to make sure they’re legitimate.
If in doubt, contact the sender directly to verify that they actually reached out to you.
Physical card fraud
What it means: Your card is stolen or cloned.
How it happens:
Someone looks over your shoulder while you’re entering your PIN and then steals your card.
A replica of your card is created when you insert or swipe it in a terminal with malicious hardware (a “skimmer”) installed.
How to protect yourself:
Never keep your PIN with your card, and make sure nobody sees you entering it.
Avoid using terminals that look bulkier than usual, have loose parts, or have unusually stiff PIN pads.
Always keep your card under your control. Don’t hand it to waiters or store clerks — tap or insert it yourself instead.
Commonly asked questions
Why didn’t Wise ask me for additional confirmation when the payment was made (also known as 3D Secure)? The request for additional confirmation can only be initiated by the merchant, not by Wise. If you’d like to decline transactions that don’t use 3D Secure, you can configure this in Card controls.
Somebody else used my card details — did Wise have a data leak? No. Most card detail leaks happen at merchants that don’t have sufficient safeguards in place or whose systems are infected with malware.
My card was compromised. Is my Wise account also vulnerable? In cases of simple card compromise, your Wise account remains safe. However, if you see bank transfers you didn’t set up, clicked suspicious links, or accidentally approved login requests, go to Security and privacy settings and secure your account immediately.
What should I do if I see card transactions I didn’t make?
First, ask yourself:
Is this a subscription I forgot I signed up for?
Did I legitimately use this merchant, but don’t recognize the most recent charge?
If yes — contact the merchant to request a refund or clarification on the charge.