Four Moves Used in Scams · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Check a suspicious payment request

Life Skills · Money & Finance · ages 15-16
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Why pause before sending a fast payment to someone whose identity you have not checked?

    • A fast transfer proves the recipient is honest.
    • Recovery may be difficult after the money reaches the recipient.
    • Blocking the recipient cancels a completed payment and returns the money to your account.

  2. A message says: 'We are your college finance office. Send £25 in gift-card codes by 4 pm or lose your place. Keep this from your tutor.' Which signs match the office claim, deadline, tutor instruction and codes, in that order?

    • Claimed authority; pressure; secrecy; risky payment request
    • Pressure; claimed authority; secrecy; risky payment request
    • Claimed authority; pressure; risky payment request; secrecy

  3. Blocking a suspicious sender reverses a payment you already sent.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. A friend offers you a fee to receive money from strangers and forward it to another account. Why should you refuse?

    • A friend's fee confirms bank approval.
    • Forwarding money through your own account makes the original funds lawful, regardless of their source.
    • It could move stolen funds through an account in your name.

  5. You sell an item for £45. A buyer sends a screenshot claiming a £60 payment and demands £15 in gift-card codes. What should you do?

    • Send £15 in codes because the buyer's screenshot proves that the £60 payment is final.
    • Pause and ask your payment provider to check the claimed payment.
    • Refund £15 from savings to fix the buyer's mistake.

  6. A text says your bank account is locked and supplies a link and phone number. How should you check?

    • Call the number in the text because a person answering can confirm their own identity.
    • Use your usual genuine bank app or the number on your bank card.
    • Reply with your account details so the sender can prove the warning concerns your account.

  7. A seller refuses your checks and demands a wire transfer immediately. You cannot verify the deal safely. What should you do?

    • Send a small transfer first because a smaller payment can test the seller's honesty.
    • Stop the deal rather than send money you cannot check safely.
    • Send gift-card codes instead because hiding your bank details proves the purchase is safe.

  8. A message claims to be your bank and demands gift-card codes within an hour. It says nothing about secrecy. Kai says it cannot be a scam because one sign is missing. What has Kai missed?

    • A scam can omit secrecy; the request still needs checking.
    • Missing secrecy confirms that this bank text is genuine.
    • A deadline removes the need to check when a message names an organisation you already know.
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Check a suspicious payment request W1-mt_0H9a6qv2XL-s1

  1. Recovery may be difficult after the money reaches the recipient. · Fast payments can be difficult to recover. Check the recipient before sending; do not assume speed proves honesty or that blocking can undo payment.
  2. Claimed authority; pressure; secrecy; risky payment request · The office claim borrows authority. The deadline applies pressure. Hiding the request from a tutor asks for secrecy. Gift-card codes are the risky payment request. These warnings justify checking; they do not prove fraud.
  3. False · Blocking concerns contact with the sender. It does not reverse the payment. Contact your bank or payment provider about the money.
  4. It could move stolen funds through an account in your name. · This could involve money muling. A friend's involvement does not remove the risks to your account and money or the possibility of investigation.
  5. Pause and ask your payment provider to check the claimed payment. · The claimed extra is £60 - £45 = £15. The screenshot does not prove payment. Do not send codes under pressure; ask the provider to check.
  6. Use your usual genuine bank app or the number on your bank card. · Use an independently trusted bank contact. The text's link, number and replies all lead through routes chosen by its sender.
  7. Stop the deal rather than send money you cannot check safely. · A test payment still risks a loss. Changing payment methods does not verify the seller. Stop a deal you cannot check safely.
  8. A scam can omit secrecy; the request still needs checking. · A scam need not show every warning sign. Claimed authority, a deadline and gift-card demands still give reasons to stop and check.
Worksheet · LightMySky