Personal Finance

Buy verified Wise accounts scam: What to know

Alexis Konovodoff

13.03.25

Read time 3 minutes

The sale of Wise accounts is a common online scam. A digital provider may say you can buy a verified Wise account from them, but this isn’t legit.

Once you open a Wise account, you’ll need to verify your identity for yourself.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about these scams, including how to stay safe online and properly verify your identity at Wise.

Can you buy a verified Wise account?

No, you can’t buy verified Wise accounts. Your account needs to be in your own name – and you’ll need to go through Wise’s easy verification process to confirm your identity.

Banks and money transfer institutions like Wise are required by law to verify your identity before you can use their services. This includes checking your ID documentation, for example.

Despite this, you might have seen verified Wise accounts for sale online. This is a scam. It’s free to open a Wise account, so any company trying to charge money for a verified account isn’t legit.

If you do buy a verified account, Wise may be required to close your account altogether.

How to verify your Wise account

Wise is a financial institution, which means you’ll need to verify your account to start using it. Fortunately, it’s very easy to complete your verification online.

Simply follow these steps to open and verify your Wise account:
1. Download the Wise app or head to Wise.com
2. Register for an account – you may need to provide your email address and phone number. You’ll also need to set a strong password for your account
3. Choose your account currency and set up your first transfer or top-up
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete Wise’s verification process – this typically involves sending a photo of your ID and a selfie of your face

Getting verified plays an important role in preventing money laundering and keeping everyone’s money safe.

Wise may also ask for additional ID verification when you send a large transfer or a new currency for the first time. The app will provide you with all the information you need to complete verification.

How long does Wise take to verify accounts?

Wise will typically ask you to verify your identity when you set up your first money transfer or account top-up.

Wise will review your documents as soon as they receive the money for your transfer. You should receive a notification from Wise to resume your transfer within 1 working day.

Can I receive money on Wise without verification?

You’ll need to verify your Wise account before you can use it to send, receive, or request money.

This is to prevent fraud and keep your money safe. Verifying your identity ensures increased account security – and it can protect against money laundering for all customers, not just you.

The Wise account verification process is very easy. You’ll need a valid ID document like your passport or driver’s licence. You may also need to send Wise a selfie of you holding your document to prove your identity.

Avoiding scams: Steps to take to protect yourself

If you regularly send and receive money online, you need to be on the lookout for scams. Some scammers may impersonate your bank to get your personal information. Others may ask you to transfer large sums of money for a fake product or service.

There are a few ways to spot a scam, such as:

an unexpected or suspicious request from your financial institution

spelling, grammar, or design errors

deals that sound too good to be true

a request for money paid by a specific method

a demand for immediate money or information

Here are a few tips to protect yourself:

Always think twice before transferring money online

Don’t click on suspicious links

Insist you speak to a seller over the phone or in person before you pay

Enable 2-factor authentication on your banking app

Use strong and unique passwords for your accounts

Don’t let someone pressure you into making a bad decision – and always speak to your bank or money transfer provider before giving out personal information. This can help you confirm if any communication from them is legit.

You can also report suspected scams to your financial institution. For example, Wise encourages users to get in touch about suspicious activity on their account. You can do this via the app or your desktop account.

You should never buy verified Wise accounts online. This is a scam – and it’s very easy to open and verify your own legit Wise account.

Simply follow Wise’s on-screen prompts to complete verification and start using your account for global money transfers.

You can also protect yourself against digital scammers by thinking through all your decisions and reporting suspicious messages to your financial provider.

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*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.