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!

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Although it may seem that this topic has nothing to do with travel, believe me that it can be extremely useful for anyone who is traveling or even for those who have family members living abroad and need to send or receive money. (I will explain later how this article can be beneficial for travelers and immigrants).

(By the way, if you or someone you know is planning or looking to live abroad, be sure to check out our page with 10 Ways to Live Abroad)

 

 

Here are some scenarios where you can use the services of some of the companies that will be mentioned below to send money to other countries:

• You’re planning a trip abroad and want to save money when exchanging cash (I’ll explain more about that later).
• You are doing an exchange program or studying in Australia and need to receive money from your family in your home country.
• Your family members are studying or studying abroad and need your financial support, so you need to send money to Australia.
• You work in Australia and need to send money to your family in your home country.
• You need to send money to yourself because you are living in Australia but your money is in your home country.
• Your spouse is working abroad and needs to send money back to you.
• You need to send or receive money from suppliers/customers abroad.
• You need to make a payment abroad (read the end of the article to find out how to avoid fraud!).
• You’re traveling and you’ve run out of money, and your family needs to send you money to help you continue your journey.
• You were robbed while traveling and you need your family to send you money to help you out.
• You are earning salary in Australia and want to send money back for investments in your home country.
• You have accounts abroad and need to transfer money to your country.
• You want to make money transfers abroad completely online, without having to physically go to a bank branch.
• It is important to remember that the site options that will be presented below are valid for people who reside or are citizens of any country in the world, such as Portugal, United States, Ireland, Argentina, Spain, among others.

So let’s get started!

 

 

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

Throughout this article, you will find mention of the “official/commercial exchange rate” and the “tourism exchange rate”.

In simple terms, it is always better to exchange your money at the commercial exchange rate or the closest to it, as you will lose less money when converting to different currencies. This is the rate used in the financial market where large amounts of money are traded (think of it as “wholesale” exchange rates).

Most of the companies I recommend below use the official/commercial exchange rate or something very close to it (I’ll mention when they don’t).

On the other hand, the tourist exchange rate is what you will find when exchanging money at airports, banks, exchange offices, etc. They use the tourism exchange rate because they have more costs and also because they want to earn more from you in the operation. This is the worst exchange rate there is.

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

 

How to send money abroad to save money while traveling?

As you probably already know (if you’ve read my article on how to handle money and exchange while traveling), if you use your debit, credit or prepaid card abroad while traveling, you’ll pay the 6.38% IOF on the value of each transaction. This is much money!!

The cheapest option would be to exchange money in your home country before traveling (buying dollars, euros or other currencies at commercial rates) at banks or exchange offices and using them abroad. However, in addition to not being very advisable to travel with a lot of money in cash, the quotations used by exchange brokers are the tourism quotation and are not always very attractive, so you could end up losing money in this transaction.

A more economical alternative for those traveling is to use one of the options below to send money to family and friends in countries you will be visiting on your trip. So, when you arrive in that country, you get the money back in the local currency from the acquaintances who received your money from your country.

For example, let’s say I’m in Brazil and I’m planning to travel to Australia, where my brother is studying. I use one of the 9 companies below to send money to my brother’s Australian checking account. He will take this money in Australian dollars and then give it back to me once I get there in Australia. That way, I don’t need to exchange money before leaving Brazil or right after arriving in Australia.

So now let’s talk about the 9 best and cheapest companies and websites 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 individuals worldwide believe that using a bank is a simple and inexpensive way to send or receive funds overseas. However, this is far from the truth!

Conducting international transfers through banks is COSTLY!! Banks will employ a SWIFT code (or BIC) and IBAN for incoming and outgoing international wire transfers…and they’ll take advantage of you!

In general, they will charge a percentage of the total transferred amount plus a fee that can sometimes be nearly the same as the transfer itself…and to make things even worse, the conversion rate they offer is atrocious! So, if you send money to another country using a bank, you’ll most likely end up losing a significant amount of unnecessary money.

For instance, if you use an American bank to send money to a European bank, fees could quickly add up to a minimum of $45 for a single wire transfer (plus an awful exchange rate).

Xe (one of the firms I recommend below) provides a thorough comparison of their rates and the rates of leading banks for international wire transfers (formerly HiFX, which 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 largest remittance companies in the world. Which unfortunately means that 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 to Australia:

#1) Banks

#2) Western Union

#3) MoneyGram

 

 

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

Below, I’ll list my preferred options based on cost and ease of use via mobile apps or the web. However, I advise you to always test all available options to find out which one is more economical according to your needs.

 

    1. Wise (formerly Transferwise)

From the same team that created Skype, Wise (formerly known as TransferWise) is probably the cheapest and easiest way to send and receive 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 money’s destination country (note that the account that will receive the money doesn’t have to be in your name, which makes Wise perfect for sending money to family and friends).

Basically, you enter the amount of currency you want to send (e.g. R$ reais) and the currency you want to receive (e.g. euros). Then, you enter the amount of money you want to send (for example, R$ 1,000), and Wise will inform you the final amount that the person will receive in euros, already including all fees, taxes and other charges.

It is very important to note that the quotation that Wise uses is exactly the official quotation between the Real and the Euro that Google is providing. That is, it is the best possible quote, regardless of the transfer direction and the currencies used.

Afterwards, all you have to do is register with your data and enter the bank details of the country where the money will be sent (even if it is your account abroad).

In addition, Wise will issue a bank slip for you to pay the amount to be transferred. There are no fees for issuing this ticket. You can even go to a bank and pay this bill in cash, even if you don’t have a checking account at that bank! Or simply pay the boleto online through your internet banking (without having to leave your home to complete the transfer).

(In some cases, depending on the country of origin of the money, you can also send money to Wise via domestic transfer, debit card or even credit card! However, paying by credit card will incur an additional fee .)

Wait 1-3 days and the money will be in the destination account.

 

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:

• Until recently, it was not possible to send money if the person did not have a current account in the destination country of the transaction. But now, with Wise’s digital and physical cards, you can make payments directly from your account on the platform, but check availability in your region!

However, if in the country you are in this service is not yet available, an easy way to circumvent this problem is 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 a well-known platform for international money transfer. Like Wise and CurrencyFair, Xe also offers this type of service.

In addition, Xe is one of the largest websites in the world to check the exchange rate between any two currencies in the world, including historical values. This is very useful to check if a certain currency is appreciating or devaluing against another.

To calculate transfer costs, you need to create a free account with them beforehand.

It is important to mention that Xe does not offer a service to send or receive money to Brazil, but it is a great option for people of other nationalities who want to send or receive money from different countries around the world.

 

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 the Central Bank of Belgium and is headquartered in Brussels. Their services are available in over 150 countries (including the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Brazil and most European countries) and they work with over 90 currencies.

Although they carry out transfers to Brazil, they do not have a website in Portuguese. In addition to transfers, WorldRemit also offers mobile top-ups in over 110 destinations. The company charges low service and exchange fees, and the 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 well-known company in the international money transfer industry. It started out offering only services in the United States, but over time, it expanded to serve many countries around the world.

One of Remitly’s main differentials is the service of remittances sent remotely. This means that it is possible to send money to another country and have it delivered in cash to the desired address using the delivery service.

Remitly also offers online transfers to traditional 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

 

 

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 a global money transfer company offering money sending and receiving services to people all over the world. Founded in 1987, the company is headquartered in the United States and has been expanding rapidly around the world.

Ria has a strong presence in over 160 countries, with over 436,000 agent locations worldwide, offering a wide range of services including wire transfers, bank deposits and bill payments.

Additionally, Ria’s mission is to provide safe, convenient, and affordable money transfer services to individuals and families who need to send money to their loved ones around the world.

 

 

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 a renowned international money transfer company focused on serving European residents and visitors who want to send money abroad.

They offer transfers to more than 60 countries around the world, but unfortunately, if you want to send money to Brazil, you can only do so if you are in a European country. If you are in Australia, USA, Canada, etc., you can only send money to Brazil if you have a European bank account.

TransferGo stands out for its wide range of transfer options and competitive rates. Also, they give you the option to send money directly from your bank account, debit card or credit card.

Customers have the option to choose between fast transfers, which complete in up to 30 minutes, or low-fee economic transfers, which take up to 3 days to complete. The entire transfer process is simple and intuitive, making TransferGo a convenient option for sending money internationally.

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 global money transfer company offering services to individuals and businesses that need to send money internationally. Founded in 1988 in Australia, the company has expanded its operations and now has offices around the world, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and New Zealand. OFX offers competitive exchange rates and low transfer fees, as well as personalized services to meet each client’s individual needs.

The company aims to provide secure, fast and affordable money transfer services with 24/7 customer support. OFX offers a variety of transfer options, including wire transfers, bill payments and scheduled transfers.

The company is a popular choice for those who need to send large amounts of money abroad, such as international students, expatriates, and companies that handle international trade. OFX is a trusted and established company in the international money transfer market, with a proven track record of excellence in customer service and customer satisfaction.

 

 

Pros of utilizing OFX for international fund transfers:

• Low transfer charges: OFX imposes a minimal transfer fee or sometimes no fees for transfers above a certain threshold, depending on the country of origin and destination.
• Tailored services: OFX provides personalized services to cater to each customer’s specific requirements, such as scheduled transfers, wire transfer options, and bill payments.
• Round-the-clock customer support: OFX offers 24/7 customer support to ensure that customers receive assistance whenever needed.
• Wide array of transfer options: OFX provides an extensive range of transfer options, including wire transfers, bill payments, and scheduled transfers, allowing customers to choose the most suitable option.

 

Cons of using OFX for fund transfers:

• OFX does not support all currencies, which may limit the countries or regions to which you can send money.
• While OFX offers competitive exchange rates, it is possible that other companies or services may offer better rates at certain times.
• Transfer processing time may take a few business days, which can be inconvenient if you need to transfer money urgently.

 

Personal experience with OFX:

Although I have not personally used OFX’s services, user reviews are often highly positive. Based on these positive reviews, OFX can be considered an excellent option for those who need to transfer money to someone.

 

 

   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.

Paypal can also be used to send or receive money from abroad. The only problem is that you cannot withdraw the money if you don’t have a US bank account.

 

One option is to use the available balance in your Paypal account to make online purchases at establishments that accept this form of payment, such as Ebay, for example. In addition, it is possible to transfer the balance to another person.

 

 

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

Digital currencies such as Bitcoin are an emerging option in the global financial market. Although they are still relatively new, their use is becoming more and more popular.

One of the advantages of cryptocurrencies is that they allow you to send and receive money from abroad with very low fees compared to traditional methods. Furthermore, transactions can be completed in a matter of minutes, regardless of the country in which the recipient is located.

 

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

I recommend Coinbase as an option to send money internationally using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. Coinbase is the world’s largest platform for buying and selling cryptocurrencies, making it a trusted choice.

The first step is to create a free Coinbase account and add your details. Then transfer money online from your checking account to your “digital wallet” and buy the desired cryptocurrency. Coinbase offers three popular options: Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin.

After purchase, you can send your cryptocurrencies to someone else anywhere in the world, as long as they have a digital wallet. The person receiving the coins will provide their digital wallet address, and you can send the coins through your own digital wallet.

After the person receives the value in cryptocurrencies, it is possible to exchange them for their local currency (Reais, Euros, Dollars, etc.) and transfer to their local bank account using the Coinbase platform.

The platform is relatively simple to use and the entire process is self-explanatory. Furthermore, if you are interested in investing in cryptocurrencies, Coinbase is an excellent tool due to its size and reputation.

 

 

How to invest in Bitcoins or other digital currencies

When you buy digital currencies, instead of sending them to someone else, you can choose to keep them in your digital wallet and wait for their value to increase to sell them in the future. However, it is important to remember that there is no guarantee that the currency will appreciate in value, and in fact, it can even 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.

 

Conclusion…

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. WorldNomads is ideal for adventurous travelers, backpackers, or anyone looking to be protected during their trip. They cover almost every single activity you can image! Plus, you can have a 5% discount with the coupon code comfort5.

Already reserved your hotel or hostel? If not, we recommend Booking.com. They have a huge selection of hotels and hostels all over the world. Plus, in most cases, you can cancel your reservation up to a few days before the check-in date without any costs! 

Still haven’t booked your plane ticket and want to save big? Take a look at Momondo. It’s a flight aggregator that combines several other ticket search websites to make it easier for you to compare prices and make sure you are getting the best deal. 

 

And finally, will you need to rent a car during your trip? Then check out Rentalcar.com to search and compare car rental companies from all over the world in a single website. Then, you can find the cheapest price for the best car!