Upfront fee fraud
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What is the process of advanced fee fraud?
What is it?
Advanced fee fraud is a widespread scam where criminals deceive victims into paying upfront fees for services or products that are never provided. This scam can happen in different contexts, such as obtaining a loan, leasing a property, or pursuing job opportunities.
Increasing advanced fee fraud
Scammers are increasingly exploiting advanced fee fraud to target vulnerable people, often those with limited financial resources. Over the past year, cases of advanced fee fraud have risen by 105%, with victims losing an average of $711.
Cases of advanced fee fraud
Job interviews
After a job interview, you might be offered the position but asked to pay fees for background checks or training courses. Once paid, it becomes evident that the job was never real.
Competitions on social platforms
You pay a fee to enter a social media competition that turns out to be fake, with no prizes ever awarded. Sometimes, you might be contacted claiming you’ve won a contest you entered—or one you never knew about—but then asked to pay a fee to claim your prize.
Rental properties
If you’re searching for a rental property and find a great offer, then express interest, scammers may claim you can’t view the property and demand a deposit to secure it. After sending the deposit—often pressured by intimidating tactics—you’ll discover the property was never actually available for rent.
How to protect yourself from advanced fee fraud
If you suspect you have been a victim of an advanced fee fraud, you should get in touch with your bank right away.
Question it
With advanced fee fraud, there are ways to safeguard yourself from financial loss. If you're ever asked to pay upfront for goods or services, you should always be cautious and question the request.
Pressure tactics
If you feel rushed to pay a fee or notice things don’t quite make sense, don’t hand over any money until you’re completely confident the people are genuine.
Lottery scams
Winning a competition or lottery prize without entering is highly improbable. It’s also unlikely that you’d be asked to pay an upfront fee to claim a prize. If such a request is made, it’s probably a case of advanced fee fraud.
Why InterClaim Alliance
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Personalised plans
Receive a tailored recovery program offering customised support and the most affordable plans.
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Care around the clock
Experiencing fraud can be overwhelming. We provide expert advice and assistance whenever you require it.
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Regulated and reputable
Obtain trustworthy, transparent, and safe support from a firm regulated by the SRA.
Recovered $50,000,000+ for clients just like you
In the last three years, we've helped clients reclaim over $50,000,000. This success is driven by our expert team of legal professionals and asset recovery specialists who track down and retrieve scam-related losses. And with our no-win, no-fee promise, you won’t owe anything unless we get your money back.
Avi Grant
Head of First ResponseAvi has a proven track record in both marketing and sales, having worked across multiple industries—from technology to communications—including roles at major global tech companies like Google.
Noah Stein
Head of Crypto InvestigationsSince becoming part of InterClaim Alliance Crypto Investigation division, Noah has shown a strong passion for the Metaverse, especially in the area of NFTs.
Daniel Rhodes
Co-founder and SolicitorDaniel is a fully accredited solicitor who earned his LLB with a 2:1 from the University of Liverpool. He was recently named a finalist for Young Lawyer of the Year 2024 and shortlisted in two categories at the North West Leadership Awards.
Jake Turner
SolicitorJake became part of InterClaim Alliance in August 2021, and after demonstrating strong performance and delivering excellent client outcomes, he was awarded a training contract in February 2023. Jake now manages his own caseload, assisting scam victims in recovering their lost funds.