At Excel Currencies, we specialise in helping expats, immigrants, families abroad, and businesses make secure international transfers with confidence. Every day, our customers send money to loved ones overseas or manage cross-border finances — moments that scammers actively target through impersonation fraud.
Fake FCA impersonation scams reports in the first half of 2025 alone
of victims losing money (FCA data, August 2025)
Fraud losses in the UK in the first half of 2025 (UK Finance)
Impersonation tactics are evolving rapidly with AI and deepfakes.
Expats and those making regular international transfers are especially vulnerable, as scammers exploit confusion around cross-border rules, urgent "security" issues, or fake recovery offers after a previous scam.
Contact UsCriminals have shifted tactics amid stronger bank protections on domestic scams:
Generating realistic voices, videos, or emails to impersonate officials or relatives.
Combining spoofed caller ID, professional emails, WhatsApp messages, and fake websites.
Targeting previous victims by posing as the FCA or police promising to recover lost funds (a common tactic after investment or loan scams).
Claims of investigations, frozen accounts, or urgent payments to "secure" funds.
Impersonating immigration officials, banks for international wires, or even family members needing urgent help abroad.
While some impersonation cases (like bank/police officials) dropped due to awareness campaigns, FCA-specific impersonations and AI-enhanced versions are rising sharply.
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Watch for these common indicators — any one is reason to stop and verify:
Calls, texts, emails, or WhatsApp messages claiming your account is compromised, under investigation, or you need to "secure" funds immediately.
Asking for PINs, passwords, OTPs, bank details, or to transfer money to a "safe" account.
Numbers/emails that look official (e.g., matching FCA or your bank), professional logos, reference codes, or deepfake video calls.
Promises to reclaim lost money from previous scams — often targeting vulnerable people after crypto/investment fraud.
Fake demands related to cross-border transfers, immigration status, or family emergencies abroad (e.g., "stranded overseas").
Emotional manipulation, threats of legal action, or "act now" deadlines.
Follow these actionable recommendations from the FCA, UK Finance's Take Five campaign, and Action Fraud:
Never respond to unsolicited messages. Hang up, delete, and contact your bank/provider using official details from their website (not links provided).
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA/2FA) everywhere possible — it adds crucial protection against account takeover.
For international sends, confirm recipient details verbally with the person (not just via message). Use trusted, regulated providers.
The real FCA or police will never ask for money to recover funds or demand transfers to "safe" accounts.
Be extra cautious with urgent family requests via WhatsApp/text. Verify in person or via a known video call. When sending money abroad, choose providers with strong security and no hidden fees.
If targeted or scammed, contact your bank to freeze accounts, then report to Action Fraud (actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040). For FCA impersonation, report directly to the FCA too.
Contact your bank to freeze accounts,
then report to Action Fraud and seek support from Victim Support.
International transfers are a lifeline for many — supporting family, paying mortgages overseas, or building a new life. Scammers know this and exploit urgency or trust. Impersonation often leads to authorised push payments (APP) where victims willingly transfer funds, thinking it's legitimate.
At Excel Currencies, we prioritise your security:
We never cold-call for unsolicited advice, request sensitive details unexpectedly, or pressure quick decisions. Our platform uses bank-grade encryption, and every transfer includes personal support from a real human who understands expat needs.
Impersonation fraud can happen to anyone, but awareness and quick verification stop most attempts. In 2025, with AI making scams more convincing, take that extra moment to check. Your hard-earned money belongs with your family, not fraudsters.
Questions about secure overseas transfers?
Contact our team today — our team is ready to help.
Contact our team today
