Advance-fee fraud
Updated 2026-09-29
Advance-fee fraud is a scam that asks you to pay a fee upfront, such as a processing charge, tax, or deposit, in order to receive a much larger sum you have been promised, like a loan, prize, inheritance, or investment payout. The larger sum never actually arrives.
When it matters
This pattern appears across many scam types, from loan scams to the “pay to withdraw” trap seen in investment scams. A genuine lender, lottery, or platform never requires you to pay before releasing money that is rightfully yours. If you have already paid, stop sending more money and read the first hour after a scam guide for what to do next.
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