Paysafecard Scams: Fake Fines, PIN Checkers and Ticket Tricks to Avoid
· Updated · 2 min read
Short answer: Most Paysafecard scams have one goal: getting you to reveal a 16-digit PIN, because whoever has the PIN can spend it. Watch for 'fines' or 'taxes' that must be paid in Paysafecard, websites that offer to check or verify your PIN, buyers who want the PIN before paying, and anyone promising free codes. Only enter a PIN on Paysafecard's own site or in the app you're selling it on.
Chidi's sister in Germany bought a €100 Paysafecard to help with his school fees. Before he could sell it, he got a WhatsApp message from a "verification agent": send the PIN so they could confirm it was valid. He did. Ten minutes later the balance was zero.
Paysafecard is a safe payment method. The danger is always the same: someone else getting the 16-digit PIN.
The common Paysafecard scams
| Scam | What it looks like | What they want |
|---|---|---|
| Fake fines | A "police", "court" or "tax" message saying you must pay with Paysafecard | You to buy vouchers and send the PINs |
| PIN checkers | A site or person offering to "check" or "verify" your PIN | The PIN itself |
| Pay-first buyers | A buyer who wants the PIN before sending money | The PIN, without paying |
| Ticket and marketplace sellers | Concert tickets, phones or rent paid in Paysafecard | Payment for goods that don't exist |
| Free codes | "Free Paysafecard codes" or a code generator | Your details, a download, or a fee |
Free Paysafecard codes and generators explains why that last one never works.
Five rules that stop almost all of them
- The PIN is cash. Don't send it, photograph it for strangers or read it out.
- Check balances only on Paysafecard's own website. Type the address yourself; see how to check a Paysafecard balance.
- Nobody official is paid in vouchers. Fines, taxes and bills never are.
- Sell only through a platform, where the code goes into the app, not into a chat. On KWIQ you add the card inside the app and see the naira amount before you confirm.
- KWIQ will never ask for a code, password, PIN or one-time code by DM, email or social media.
The same habits protect every gift card; how to tell if a gift card is real covers the rest.
If it's already happened
Check the balance on Paysafecard's website and contact its customer service with the PIN and your receipt. Report the account that contacted you, and warn whoever gave you the card so they don't fall for the same trick.
Selling safely
When you're ready to sell, do it in one place you trust: the sell Paysafecard page shows today's rate, and the KWIQ app pays naira once the card is checked. Download the KWIQ app, or create a free account on the web.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone steal my money with just the Paysafecard PIN?
Yes. The PIN is the money: anyone who has it can spend the balance online, and spent value can't usually be recovered. Never send a photo or screenshot of a PIN to anyone.
Do the police or tax office ask for payment in Paysafecard?
No genuine police force, court, tax office or utility asks for fines or bills to be paid with Paysafecard. A message demanding it is a scam, however official it looks.
What should I do if I sent my Paysafecard PIN to a scammer?
Check the balance on Paysafecard's website straight away, and contact Paysafecard's customer service with the PIN and receipt. If the value hasn't been spent yet, they may be able to help; if it has, it's usually gone.
Written by
Ikechukwu Menik
Technical Writer at KWIQ
Writes KWIQ’s guides on crypto, payments and keeping your money safe online.
