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Online money transfer has become an important part of everyday life in Zimbabwe and across the globe. Digital money transfer services not only support millions of businesses but also help keep families and friends connected in the country and across borders.
An estimated 908,913 Zimbabweans live and work in the diaspora, according to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat).1 A significant number of them use digital money transfer services to send money back home for different reasons, including education and medical costs, gifts, and supporting daily household expenses.
The rising popularity of digital money transfer provides many benefits for customers, including faster speeds, lower costs, and enhanced security. Hackers and scammers are, however, always looking for new ways to breach systems and illegally obtain money or information.
Digital money remittance firms invest significantly in their users’ security and safety to manage this threat. Users also have an active role to play in safeguarding their safety and security when sending or receiving money online. Darryl Pietersen, Director for Anglophone Africa at WorldRemit shares some essential tips that can keep you safe online:
Do not save passwords or credentials
What is the use of a strong password if someone can access your account without entering it? Some people have a habit of saving their login credentials on the browser and apps for fast transactions. Although the experience might be fast, it puts users at significant risk if the phone or laptop gets into the wrong hands.
If forgetting the password is a concern, examine the additional security features you can use to prevent unauthorized access to your devices and apps, including answering security questions, entering patterns, using biometrics, or enabling two-step verification. Additionally, changing passwords regularly will support a safer digital ecosystem.
Familiarize yourself with the official communication channels
It’s not uncommon for scammers purporting to be a tech support team members of a service you regularly use to get in touch with you. In some cases, they might inform you that there is something wrong with your recent transactions or account and ask for information to resolve the issue. They typically apply pressure to make the user comply with their wishes.
To avoid becoming a target of such scams, do not provide sensitive data such as your password, date of birth, and other personal information to suspicious people who contact you using unauthorized channels. Avoid clicking on unfamiliar links or responding to strangers on the phone or via email. Familiarize yourself with the official communication channels of your service providers and avoid communicating through unofficial lines. Report suspected cases of contact through unauthorized channels immediately to your service providers’ official contact email.
Make sure you are using a licensed provider
Only use reputable and licensed payment providers. Go online to the relevant financial industry regulator website to determine if a payment provider you want to use is licensed. For example, WorldRemit, one of the popular digital money transfer services enabling migrants to send cash back home, is a fully licensed international money transfer service.
The benefit of using a licensed and trusted provider is that you get safety and customer support. WorldRemit has a dedicated 24/7 customer support team, meaning you can get help or questions answered worldwide.2 Visit a reputable website like TrustPilot to get users’ feedback on the service. WorldRemit currently has a “Great” review on TrustPilot, with more than 68,000 unique reviews.2
Overall, verifying the safety and security of an online money transfer is critical to protecting your personal information, preventing fraud and scams, ensuring the transfer is legitimate, and protecting your funds.
This article was written by Darryl Pietersen, the Director of Anglophone Africa, WorldRemit.
Reviewed for publication by Calvin Manika, a multiple-award-winning Zimbabwean International Journalist.
The writer used sources from ZIMSTAT. Migration report 2022. 2022 and Trustpilot. WorldRemit review. 2023
About WorldRemit
We’re a leading global payments company and, along with Sendwave, part of Zepz, a group powering two global payments brands.
We disrupted an industry previously dominated by offline legacy players by taking international money transfers online – making them a safer, faster, and lower cost. We currently send from 50 countries to recipients in 130 countries, operate in more than 5,000 money transfer corridors worldwide and employ over 1,200 people globally. On the sending side, WorldRemit is 100% digital (cashless), increasing convenience and enhancing security. For those receiving money, the company offers a wide range of options including bank deposit, cash collection, mobile airtime top-up, and mobile money.
Backed by Accel, TCV and Leapfrog – WorldRemit’s headquarters are in London, United Kingdom with regional offices in the United States, Poland, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Africa, Somaliland, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Belgium.
