Last Updated on September 11, 2024 by Rodrigo @ OutofYourComfortZone

The 7 best and cheapest websites and apps to do online international wire transfers. Easy to use and you can instantly calculate the cost to send and final value after conversion before confirming your transfer. Works for 40 different currencies in more than 70 countries, including USA, India, Australia, UK, Nigeria, China, European Union & more!

Click here if you want to jump straight to the top 7 list

It might seem like this topic isn’t so related to travelers. But believe me, it is. Plus it’s super useful if you (or any of your relatives) live, work, or study abroad.

(By the way, if you or anyone you know are planning or want to live abroad and still don’t know how you can, don’t miss our page with 10 Ways to Live Abroad)

 

 

Here are just some examples of when you might use the services of the companies I’ll mention below to transfer money to other countries. If you:

• Are traveling abroad and want to save on exchange rates (we explain how 2 sections below)
• Are studying or working abroad and need to receive/send money to/from your family back home
• Have friends or family studying or working abroad and you need to send/receive money to/from them
• Need to send funds to yourself because you’re living abroad and your money is in a bank account in another country or your home country
• Have a husband or wife abroad and need to send them money
• Need to pay for something abroad (see bottom of article for notes on scams and fraud for this)
• Are traveling and run out of money and need your family to send you money
• Have international clients/suppliers and need to receive/send payment from them
• Get your wallet stolen while abroad and need someone to send you money
• Earn a salary abroad and want to send money to your bank account back home to invest
• Have bank accounts overseas and need to send money from them to your home bank
• You want transfer money abroad completely online, without the need to physically go to a bank branch

And remember, the options that I’ll give you below work for that are living or are from any country in the world….The United States, The United Kingdom, Australia, China, New Zealand, Spain, Ireland, India, Nigeria, European Union (Euro) in general, etc…

So, let’s get started!

 

Important note: Official/spot exchange rate vs. retail/tourist exchange rate

Throughout the article, you’ll see us mention the official/spot exchange rate and the retail/tourist exchange rate.

In simple terms, you always want to get the official/spot exchange rate because then you’ll lose less money when you convert your currencies. This the rate that’s used in the financial market where large amounts of currency are traded (think of it a bit like “wholesale” or “discount” currency exchange rates).

Most of the companies I recommend below use the official/spot exchange rate (I’ll mention if they don’t).

The retail/tourist exchange rate, on the other hand, is what you’ll find when you exchange money at airports, banks, currency exchange stands, etc. They use the retail/exchange rate so they make a big profit by giving you a worse exchange rate.  

In other words, always try to exchange currencies using the official/spot exchange rate NOT the retail/tourist exchange rate. We mention below which rate each company uses.

 

How to save money on your trips by transferring money abroad

As you might already know (especially if you’ve read our article about How to Deal with Money While Traveling), doing things like withdrawing funds with your debit card or paying with a credit card abroad can rack up a lot of fees (unless you get a card without foreign transaction fees).

One alternative could be to exchange money in your home country at a bank or agency before you go abroad. But the problem is that, besides not being a great idea to travel with so much cash, the exchange rates used by these places are the retail/tourist rates…so you can end up losing a lot in your transaction.

 

 

Another cheaper option for travelers is to use one of the options below to send money to friends or family that live along your travel route. Then, when you arrive in that country, you can pick up the money in the local currency from the friend/family member you sent the money to from back home.

For example, let’s say I’m from the United States and am planning a trip to Australia where my brother is studying. I use one of the 7 companies below to send money from my US bank account to my brother’s bank account in Australia. He’ll receive the money in Australian dollars and can pass it along to me when I arrive in Australia. Then, I won’t need to change money before in the United States nor after I arrive in Australia.

Now, let’s talk about the 7 best and cheapest companies to send, receive, and transfer money abroad.  

 

But first, what’re the 3 ways you should NEVER send and receive money abroad?

 

#1) BANKS

Many people around the world think that using a bank is an easy and cheap way to send or receive money overseas. But this isn’t true! 

Doing international transfers through banks is EXPENSIVE!! Banks’ll use a SWIFT code (or BIC) and IBAN to do incoming and outgoing international wire transfers…and they’ll screw you over! 

In general, they charge you a percent of the total amount transferred plus a fee that’s sometimes almost the amount of the transfer itself….and to make things worse, the conversion rate they use is horrible! So, if you transfer money to another country with a bank, you’ll probably end up losing a lot of money that you don’t need to.

For example, if you an American bank to send money to a European bank, fees could easily be $45 minimum for a single wire transfer (plus a horrible exchange rate).

Xe (one of the companies I recommend below) has a good comparison between their rates and the rates of major bank’s for international wire transfers (it used to be HiFX but it was acquired). 

 

And this table gives you an idea of the fees charged by banks for incoming and outgoing international wire transfers…ouch!

 

#2) and #3) Western Union or MoneyGram

 

 

 

 

These are two of the biggest companies for sending money abroad in the world. Which means that, unfortunately, a lot of people are using them and wasting money without realizing it just because they didn’t know there are better options.

But if so many other people use Western Union and MoneyGram, why shouldn’t you?

Because they…

• Are super expensive and take a high percentage of the money you’re sending

(MoneyGram, for example, will charge you nearly a quarter of the amount you’re sending – or US $22 – for a $100 transfer….what a ripoff!)

• Don’t let you send or receive money online (you have to go personally to the agency yourself and the person receiving the money has to do the same)
• Usually use the tourist/retail exchange rate (AKA: the one you don’t want)

 

One last time, here are the 3 ways you should NOT do international transfers:

#1) Banks

#2) Western Union

#3) MoneyGram

 

 

Then what are the cheapest and most practical ways to do international money transfers?

I’ve put the 7 options in order with my favorite options at the top (because of their low cost and ease to use via internet or phone app). But I’d recommend you always test all the options below to see what is best for what you need.

 

    1. Wise (formerly Transferwise)

 Made by the creators of Skype, Wise (formerly Transferwise) is probably the cheapest and easiest way to send money abroad. It’s definitely my favorite and the one I use most often.

All you need to do is have a checking account in the country you’re sending the money from and a checking bank account in a foreign country where you’re sending the money to (note:  the account that receives the money doesn’t need to be in your name, making this a perfect option if you need to send money to friends or family).

You basically just put in the amount of money in the currency you want to send (US dollars, for example) and the currency you want to receive (Euros, for example). Then, put in how much money you want to send (US $1,000, for example) and Wise will tell the amount the person will receive in Euros including all fees.

Important: you can see that the conversion rates Wise uses are the official exchange rates that Google gives. In other words, the best rate possible, no matter the direction/currencies involved.

Then, just sign up with your info and put in the bank info of the person (even if it’s your own account in another country) who is receiving the money.

Depending on the country you’re sending money from, you can send money with Wise through domestic bank transfers, debit cards, or even credit cards! But to use a credit card you do have to pay a small percentage fee.

In some countries, Wise will issue you an invoice to pay the amount to be transferred. There aren’t any fees for this.

The money you transfer will be in the destination account in 2-3 days.

 

And notice that the currency exchange rate from Wise is pretty much the same as the official one given by Google!

 

 

Pros of using Wise for international money transfers:

• It’s the cheapest way to transfer money I’ve found– their fee is only around 0.35% of the total transfer value
• They use the official exchange rate (which is much better than the “tourist” exchange rate)
• It’s super practical – you can do everything online
• It’s cheaper and easier than sending money internationally using banks
• There isn’t a minimum transaction amount
• You can use Wise to transfer money overseas for your Business and pay suppliers or employees
• You can send money to more than 40 countries plus all the countries that use the Euro (19 in total) *
• You can receive payments worldwide

 

By the way, if you want to send money to Spain, Portugal, Ireland, or other countries that use the Euro, the process is the same. All you need is to select Euro when you begin your transfer and then put the info of the bank account in the country receiving the money.

*Countries that use the Euro: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Portugal, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican, Kosovo, Montenegro.

 

Cons of using Wise for international money transfers:

• You can’t send money to someone if they don’t have a checking account in your transfer’s destination country

Luckily, there’s an easy way to solve this problem by using the checking account of someone you trust. Here in Sweden, for example, I helped a fellow Brazilian receive money here from his family in Brazil. They transferred the money to my Swedish bank account, I withdrew the money from the ATM and gave it to him.

Personal experience with Wise: I’ve used Wise to send money from the United States to Brazil (which can be done with a credit card!), from the United States to Sweden, from Australia to Sweden, from Australia to Sweden, and from Sweden to the United States. It’s always worked smoothly for me! So, I’d definitely recommend it.

If you want to see, here’s a video explaining how Wise works:

 

    2. Xe

Xe is another well-known website platform for international transfers. They are pretty similar to Wise and CurrencyFair.

However, in addition to being an international transfer website, Xe is one of the main websites in the world to search for the exchange rate between any two currencies in the world….including historical values! So it is very good to see if a particular currency is getting stronger or weaker in recent months.
But to calculate the cost of your transfer, you need first to open a free account with them.

 

PROS of using Xe for international money transfers:

• Xe does not have a minimum or maximum limit for the transfer value.
• They charge a relatively low fee to send and receive money from abroad (for example: for transfers up to 500 USD a fee of 3 USD is charged)
• They don’t charge any fees to send or exchange abroad
• They use a rate close to the official rate
• It’s super practical – you can do everything online
• You can send money to more than 26 countries plus all the countries that use the Euro

You can see which currencies they work with on their homepage here.

And you can easily sign up on Xe for free to check how much you’d save on a transfer.

Cons of using Xe to transfer money:

• They don’t with all currencies
• You must open an account before getting a quote for the cost of your transfer…..but it’s free to open an account and super fast
• Sometimes it costs more to transfer with Xe than with Wise or CurrencyFair because their rates aren’t always as good (you’ll have to compare for your individual transaction to see what is best)

 

My personal experience with Xe: honestly, I’ve never used Xe. But I have a friend who tried using it to send money from the United States to Sweden and she said everything worked just fine and the cost was pretty good. Plus, I use them all the time to check currency exchange rates when I’m traveling overseas. 

 

   3. WorldRemit

WorldRemit is a company regulated by NBB (National Bank of Belgium) and its headquarters is in Brussels, Belgium. Its services are available in more than 150 countries (including the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Brazil and most European countries) and they work with over 90 currencies.

Although they make transfers in Brazil, they do not have a website in Portuguese. In addition to transfers, WorldRemit also performs cell phone top-ups in more than 110 destinations. The company works with low service and exchange rates, and its first international money transfer is free (no fees).

 

 

Pros of using WorldRemit for international money transfers:

• Low fees and first free transfer
• Services available in several countries
• Cell phone recharge option

Cons of using WorldRemit for international transfers:

• No website in Portuguese

 

Personal experience with WorldRemit: WorldRemit really does work at low rates, so it’s worth making a quote through this site and comparing it to others on the list. Also, your first download is completely free!

 

 

   4. Remitly

Remitly is a renowned player in the global money transfer market. Initially, it provided only services within the United States, but now it has expanded its services to numerous countries worldwide.

One of the significant advantages of Remitly is its remote remittance service. This allows users to send money to a different country and get it delivered in cash to the recipient’s preferred location using their delivery service.

In addition to the delivery service, Remitly also provides online transfers to conventional or digital bank accounts.

 

 

Pros of using Remitly for international money transfers:

• Remittance option delivered in cash to the desired address;
• Simple and super practical interface;
• Transfer option for digital accounts.

Cons of using Remitly for international transfers:

• The site is not available in Portuguese;
• Compared to other companies on the list, it does not work with a large number of countries.

 

Personal experience with Remitly:

I’ve never used Remitly, but user feedback is pretty positive. This is really a great option if you need to send money to someone who is not comfortable with technology or if you need cash on hand for a trip, for example.

 

    5. CurrencyFair

CurrencyFair is very similar to Wise and the process to use it is the same.

The only downfall with CurrencyFair is that it doesn’t work with as many currencies (Brazilian reais, for example).

 

Pros of using CurrencyFair for international money transfers:

• It’s a super cheap way to send and receive money from other countries – they only charge around 0.35% of the total value, like Wise does
• They use the official exchange rate (which is much better than the “tourist” rates banks use)
• It’s super practical – you can do everything online
• You can send funds to more than 18 countries, including those that use the Euro
• As with Wise, you can use CurrencyFair for your Business to pay suppliers or employees
• It’s cheaper and faster than doing international transfers with a bank
• There isn’t a minimum transaction amount
• Now they are also working with Indian Rupee (INR)

 

Cons of transferring money with CurrencyFair:

• It only works with about half the number of currencies Wise does

 

Personal experience with CurrencyFair: I’ve also used CurrencyFair to send money from the United States to Sweden, and it worked just as well as Wise did.

Here’s a quick video on how to sign up for free:

And how to do a transfer with CurrencyFair:

 

 

   6. Instarem

USE THE DISCOUNT CODE “mznkwB” FOR A FREE TRANSFER (NO FEES) WITH INSTAREM

Instarem is a fintech firm that specializes in providing global currency exchange and money transfer services. Established in 2014 in Singapore, the company currently operates in over 25 countries across the world, utilizing advanced technology to provide its customers with cost-effective, convenient, and efficient financial services.

The company’s rates are highly competitive and transparently displayed for customers. Furthermore, Instarem has a loyalty program that allows customers to earn points for making quick and easy money transfers from any location.

Regarding travel insurance, Instarem offers a wide range of products that cover medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost baggage, and other unforeseen incidents. The company tailors its insurance solutions to meet each client’s specific requirements, and they can be easily purchased via the mobile app or website. Additionally, Instarem collaborates with top insurance providers to ensure that its clients receive the most optimal coverage.

 

 

 

Pros of using Instarem for international money transfers:

• The company is present in more than 25 countries, which allows it to serve a wide variety of customers around the world. In addition, the company’s geographic expansion has been constant and promising.
• Great Value: Low fees. Great exchange rates. nothing hidden
• Secure and reliable: Industry-leading technology moving $4 billion annually
• Rewards: Send money and earn points to enjoy even greater value
• Save time: skip the lines and send money quickly
• Anytime, Anywhere: Send money anywhere with our app

 

Cons of transferring money with Instarem:

• Transfer Fees and Limitations: Like any financial services company, Instarem charges money transfer fees and sets limits on transactions. This can make the company’s services less accessible to customers with lower purchasing power or who need to send large amounts of money.

 

Personal experience with Instarem:

Although I have never used Instarem, user feedback is generally very positive. This can be an excellent choice if you need to send someone money!

 

   7. Ria

Ria is an international company that provides money transfer services to people across the globe. Established in 1987, the company has its headquarters located in the United States and has experienced significant growth in its global presence.

With a wide range of services that include wire transfers, bank deposits, and bill payments, Ria has a strong presence in over 160 countries through its vast network of more than 436,000 agent locations worldwide.

Ria aims to offer secure, accessible, and affordable money transfer solutions to individuals and families seeking to send funds to their loved ones worldwide.

 

 

Pros of using Ria for international money transfers:

• Ria has a global presence with over 436,000 agent locations worldwide, which makes sending and receiving money more convenient for its customers;
• Ria offers a wide range of payment options, including wire transfers, bank deposits and bill payments.

Cons of using Ria for international transfers:

• Ria imposes daily and monthly limits on the amount a customer can transfer, which can be an inconvenience for those who need to send large amounts of money;
• Ria may charge additional fees, depending on the destination country and the payment method selected by the customer;
• Ria may require customers to go through an identity verification process, which can be time consuming and inconvenient.

 

Personal experience with Ria:

Although I don’t have personal experience with Ria, user feedback is often highly positive. This can be an excellent option if you need to send someone money.

 

 

Bonus: Online International Money Transfer Companies

  

   Bonus 1. TransferGo

TransferGo is one of the most famous money transfer companies in the world. Its services are ideal for residents and visitors who are in Europe and wish to send money to another country.

Transfers to over 60 countries are available. Unfortunately, if your intention is to transfer money to Brazil, you can only do so if you are in some European country. If you wish to send money to Brazil and you are in Australia, USA, Canada, etc… This is only possible if you have a European bank account.

One of the big differentials of TransferGo is its variety of transfer options and fees, and the option to make transfers directly from your bank account, debit card and credit card.

Quick transfer options are available that are completed within 30 minutes, meaning you can transfer money from the UK and within half an hour receive the amount sent in China. Very interesting, right?

The company also offers economical transfers, with lower rates, which occur within 3 days. The whole transfer process is done in a very simple and intuitive way.

When making transfers with TransferGo, you can use this code or coupon: HMSESq

 

 

Pros of using TransferGo for international money transfers:

• There are no daily limits for transfers on TransferGo
• They work with fast transfer options (for a fee of £2.99)
• They allow transfers directly from your bank account, debit card or credit card to foreign accounts
• They have a simple and practical interface to receive money from abroad

Cons of using TransferGo for international transfers:

• Each transfer may not exceed the $30,000.00 limit
• It is not possible to transfer money from the USA, Canada, among other countries to Brazil

 

Personal experience with TransferGo: If you are looking for a company to transfer money from Europe to the rest of the world, this is a great option. In my experience, the whole process is done very simply and cheaply.

 

   Bonus 2. OFX

OFX is a worldwide financial company that offers international money transfer services for individuals and businesses. Established in 1988 in Australia, the firm now has branches across the globe, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. OFX provides customers with competitive exchange rates and low transfer fees, as well as customized services tailored to their individual requirements.

The company’s objective is to deliver safe, speedy, and cost-effective money transfer services with 24/7 customer support. OFX offers a range of transfer alternatives, including wire transfers, bill payments, and recurring transfers.

OFX is a preferred choice for people who need to transfer substantial amounts of money overseas, such as foreign students, expats, and businesses involved in international trade. With a proven track record of excellent customer service and satisfaction, OFX is a reputable and well-known name in the international money transfer industry.

 

 

Pros of using OFX for international money transfers:

• Low transfer fees: OFX charges a low transfer fee or even no fees for transfers above a certain amount, depending on the country of origin and destination.
• Customized Services: OFX offers customized services to meet each customer’s individual needs, including scheduled transfers, wire transfer options and bill payments.
• Customer support available 24/7: OFX offers 24/7 customer support to ensure you get help whenever you need it.
• Extensive transfer options: OFX offers a wide range of transfer options, including wire transfers, bill payments and scheduled transfers, allowing you to choose the option that best suits your needs.

Cons of transferring money using OFX:

• OFX doesn’t support all currencies, so there may be some limitations on which countries or regions you can send money to.
• Also, while OFX offers competitive exchange rates, it is possible that other companies or services may offer even better rates at certain times.
• Finally, transfer processing time can take a few business days, which can be inconvenient if you need to send money urgently.

 

Personal experience with OFX:

Although I haven’t had the opportunity to personally use OFX’s services, user reports are often highly positive. Based on this positive review, OFX can be considered an excellent option for those who need to send someone money.

 

 Bonus 3. PayPal

Paypal is one of the most common ways to make online payments and send or receive money from third-parties. If you’ve ever purchased anything on eBay, you’ll probably already used Paypal.

You can also use it to send and receive money abroad. The only problem is that you can’t withdraw the money from your Paypal balance if you don’t have a U.S. bank account.

One alternative to this is to use your Paypal balance to buy things online where Paypal is accepted (like eBay, for example).

 

Pros of using Paypal for international transfers:

• It’s a very easy and practical way to send/receive money between almost any two people in the world
• It’s very popular
• You can use it to send/receive payments from overseas from any person that also has Paypal (since you only need an email to open an account)
• It’s super practical – you can do everything online.
• Works for people from all over the world (although you can only withdraw the money if you have a U.S. bank account)
• There’s no minimum transaction

Cons of using Paypal for international transfers:

• You can’t take money out of your Paypal wallet (if someone sends it to you) unless you have a bank account in the United States (otherwise, you’ll have to leave it in your Paypal account and can only use the money to buy things on websites that accept Paypal, like eBay)
• They charge a 3% fee on some transfers
• They don’t use the official exchange rate (they use the retail/tourist rate instead), so you’ll lose some money when you exchange from one currency to the other

 

Personal experience with Paypal: I use Paypal directly to buy things on eBay and to receive payments from a few companies that only pay with Paypal. But I don’t use it for international transfers because I think the exchange rate is bad and the options above are better, so it’s up to you.

 

 

BONUS CRIPTO

How to do international transfers using digital currency

Bitcoin! Or digital currencies in general. This is still a very new market and a lot of people aren’t familiar with it….but this is changing.

Buying digital currencies is a possible way you can send and receive money overseas with very low fees.

 

• Coinbase (for getting digital currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin)

If you want to try international transfers with cryptocurrency, I’d recommend because it is the biggest platform in the world for the purchases and sale of digital currencies.

Basically, what you do is open a free account with Coinbase, put in your info, transfer some money online from your checking account to your “digital wallet” and buy digital currency.

As shown above, Coinbase offers 3 options of digital currencies to buy: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin (which are basically the most popular digital currencies in the world and the ones that you can buy directly with money).

Once you’ve purchased your cryptocurrency, you can send your Bitcoins (or any of the other currencies) through Coinbase to any other person in the world that also has a digital wallet.

All you need is for the person that’s receiving the money to give you the address of their digital wallet (which you’ll put in when you make the transfer).

Once you (or the other person) receives the amount in digital currency, just change them on the market through Coinbase into your local currency (dollars, Euros, Pounds, etc…) and transfer to your local bank.

The whole platform is quite simple and the process is self-explanatory.

And if you’re looking to invest in digital currencies, Coinbase is a great tool to use because of its size and reputation.

 

 

How to invest in Bitcoins or other digital currencies

If you want to invest in digital currencies, Coinbase (because of its size and widespread use) is an excellent tool.

By buying digital currency, instead of sending it to someone, you can leave it in your digital wallet and hope that the value increases so you can sell it in the future. But just remember that there’s no guarantee that the currency will get more valuable….and it can definitely lose value!

 

So be careful with investing in digital currencies! Don’t use money that you’ll need in short or midterm!

 

Pros of using cryptocurrency for international transfers through Coinbase:

• It’s a cheap way to send money between almost any two countries in the world
• It’s getting more and more popular
• You can use your bank account, debit card, or credit card to do the deposit into your digital wallet in Coinbase
• You can use it to receive payments from overseas from any person that has their own digital wallet (your digital wallet can be through Coinbase or any other platform that works with cryptocurrency)
• It’s very easy – you can do everything online
• There’s no minimum transaction

Cons of using cryptocurrency for international transfers through Coinbase:

• The value of the digital currencies still varies a lot (AKA: it’s highly volatile), so it’s possible that the amount you send may already be worth more or less by the time it arrives at the destination
• You have a pay a fee of a small percentage of the total value you deposit in Coinbase. If you use a credit card, this fee can be up to 3%
• It can take a few days for the purchase of Bitcoin to be finalized. With Ethereum and Litecoin, the buy and sell confirmation is faster
• It’s a new market and many people still don’t know how it works

 

Personal experience with Coinbase: I once made an online purchase where it was cheaper to pay with digital currencies than with credit cards. So, I used Coinbase to buy a small number of Bitcoins and sent them to the online store. Everything was fine and it was super easy.

 

Summing up…

The 7 cheapest ways to receive, send, and transfer money abroad:

1. Wise
2. Xe
3. World Remit
4. Remitly
5. Currency Fair
6. Instarem
7. Ria
8. TransferGo
9. OFX
10. Paypal
11. Coinbase

 

In conclusion….  

Just as when you have to choose the best travel insurance or find the cheapest plane tickets, it’s worth spending some time researching the best way to send and receive money abroad.  The money that you can save in this comparison process can make a big difference at the end of the day.

So, if I were you, I’d use a single value (ex. pretending to send or receive $500 USD, for example), to test all the options above and see which of the 7 turns out best (where the amount received is highest).

This “loss” in a bit of time to do this research can help you save some good cash overall!

 

Protect yourself against fraud and common scams with international money transfers!!

Only use the companies mentioned above to send money to friends, families, or well-known companies with good reviews. Never send money to someone who you don’t know personally. Also, be careful if a relative or friend sends you a message asking for emergency money, but you’re unable to talk with them via phone, Skype, WhatsApp, or some other way.

By paying attention to strange signs like the ones below, you can tell if you’re being the victim of a scam or not….and then avoid it if you are. Think very carefully before making a transfer. If you’re not sure, don’t take the risk!

Don’t send/transfer money to people or companies:

• If you or your family/close friends don’t know them personally
• For a deposit to buy a property or a rent payment. Take note of this one because it is one of the most common scams for people that live abroad!  ONLY send them if you are personally in the city where you are renting and you have personally visited the property & met with the agent/landlord of the place that’s to be rented or purchased. Seriously, this scam is a lot more common than you think….and a lot of people who move abroad get screwed by it!
• To buy something online. You shouldn’t have to use an international transfer for this, better to use a credit card or Paypal (which have payment protections)
• From a place claiming to protect you from a virus that doesn’t accept credit cards (since all trusted antivirus companies should)
• For an emergency situation that hasn’t been confirmed by a friend or family member
• To “redeem” lottery winnings or prizes….another super common scam!
• To make charitable donations. Ask for another way to contribute…be wary of any charity asking for international money transfers
• To start working as a mystery shopper. You should never have to pay for this, it’s free!
•   To get a job….this is always a scam! Don’t pay a company to start working with them!
• For a credit card fee or loan. These fees are ALWAYS paid via your credit card and not through international money transfers

If you send money abroad and afterward think you were the victim of a scam, get in contact with the company you sent money with ASAP. Often, they can return the money to you is the receiver hasn’t already taken out the money. This is one reason why you should always send money to checking accounts because then you’ll know exactly who received your money.

And that’s it. I hope that all this info helps you do international transfers easily, cheaply, and safely.

But if you have any doubts (since I know talking about money and travel isn’t always an easy topic), just use the comments area below and I’ll respond as soon as I can!

 

Planning your next trip?

Then don’t forget travel insurance! You don’t want to get stuck paying a ton of money and ruining your trip if you get sick or have an accident without travel insurance. Our page with The 3 Best and Cheapest Travel Insurance on the Market can help you choose the right plan and will give you some discount coupons for the biggest insurance companies!

 

 Already reserved your hotel or hostel? If not, our article with The 6 Best and Cheapest Websites to Find & Reserve Accommodation can help you out. You’ll also find some promotions and discount codes.

 

 Still haven’t booked your plane ticket and want to save big? Take a look at our page with 16 Tips to Save on Flights where you’ll also find the 4 best websites to buy your plane tickets. 

 

And finally, will you need to rent a car during your trip? Then surely our page with The 5 Best and Cheapest Websites to Compare and Rent Cars Around the World will help you choose the best rental car and find a good deal.