What is Paysafecard? How do Paysafecard scams work? Is there a possibility of getting my money back from such a scam?

A few weeks ago, we published an article on prepaid card top-up scams and we have received a lot of feedback on this. We have therefore chosen to dedicate an article to each type of scam (Paysafecard scams therefore, but also Neosurf, PCS Mastercard scams, Cashlib scams, Tonéo scams or even Transcash scams) in order to give you a little more information on how these frauds work and allow you to discuss your experiences in the comments of these articles. Good reading !

 

First point to fully understand this article: Paysafecard, what is it?

Paysafecard is a prepaid payment method. Concretely, these are “coupons” (or “vouchers” or “refills”) that you can buy online or directly in shops such as tobacconists, gas stations or others.

These vouchers contain unique information: a 16-digit code -> Anyone who reads this Paysafecard code can withdraw the money anonymously..

You can spend the money from these coupons by entering this code on the company's partner sites (a lot of it revolves around online gaming sites, online betting, video games, online services, and even dating sites). This method of payment can therefore be practical for people who do not have a bank card or who wish to remain anonymous in their purchases.

For some time now, you can even create a Paysafecard Mastercard credit card, credit your vouchers on it and pay wherever Mastercard is accepted.

Originally, it was therefore not a scam but a method of payment. However, this payment method is very popular with scammers because it is untraceable.

I will develop below some examples of scams with the good Paysafecard that we often find, but you will see it, the purpose is always the same: the scammer will try to make you buy coupons, to recover the unique code that is on these coupons to steal your money. End of the story. And since he can recover this money anonymously, it will of course be impossible to find. (And because you will have bought these coupons of your own free will, it will be difficult - if not impossible - to recover the lost sum).

 

What to do with your Paysafecard tickets if you haven't given the codes?

This is a question that comes up often: " How do I get a refund for Paysafecard coupons? ". Some internet users bought Paysafecard coupons and sensed the scam early enough not to reveal the code. But then, they end up with a certain sum ranging from 10 to +1000 euros on coupons… How to recover this money? Here is the internet. to request a refund online from Paysafecard. Here is the information you will be asked for:

• your bank details (IBAN)
• Copy of the relevant Paysafecard PIN code
• Copy of your ID
• Proof of address

Paysafecard applies a management fee of 7,50 euros on reimbursement requests and it takes around 11 days to see the reimbursement.

 

How to block a Paysafecard code?

« I gave the Paysafecard PIN code and I realized immediately after that it was a scam: can I cancel a Paysafecard payment ? "

Good news, if you act quickly, you can block a PIN code on the PaysafeCard website (here is the link). Please note, this process can only work if the scammer has not yet entered the PIN code to collect the sum!

And of course, if you are the victim of Paysafecard fraud, go to the police station to file a complaint. 

 

Examples of Paysafecard scams

• Malwares (= computer viruses which appear on your computer and which ask you to enter a Paysafecard code worth 100 euros or more to "unlock the computer")
• Real estate rental announcement
• Job offer scam
• Purchases on Le Bon Coin (generally for expensive items, such as cars, computer equipment, etc.), or scams on the Facebook marketplace
• Email from a loved one who says they are in a problematic situation

 

Why do we fall into the trap? Because scammers are smart and don't hesitate to send you false documents to prove their good faith and put you at ease. A few years ago, we spotted scams easily (especially because the ads were often full of spelling mistakes!), Now they are often very well written and ultimately, the only thing that could put the bullet in ear is that, very often, the offer is too good to be true (donation, sale at ridiculous prices…).

 

We hope this article has helped you. if you wish, do not hesitate to:

• share this article to promote this type of scam
• leave a comment if you liked the article or if you want to tell us about your experience

See you soon.