Medium riskOnline Shopping Scams

Buy Now Pay Later Scam

Buy now pay later (BNPL) services let people split a purchase into instalments, and scammers exploit how familiar they have become. A typical scam arrives as a text or email claiming to be from a BNPL provider, warning of a missed payment, an account problem, or a refund waiting to be claimed. The message links to a convincing but fake login or payment page designed to capture your account details, card, or bank information. In some cases criminals who already have access use a victim's BNPL account to buy goods. Genuine providers contact you through their app and do not pressure you to confirm details through an unexpected link.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Payment service phishing scam
Main red flag
An unexpected message about a missed BNPL payment, account issue, or refund pushes you to click a link and log in or confirm card details urgently.
What to do first
Do not use the link. Open the BNPL provider's official app or type their website address yourself, and check your account status there.

What this scam usually looks like

Buy now pay later (BNPL) services let people split a purchase into instalments, and scammers exploit how familiar they have become. A typical scam arrives as a text or email claiming to be from a BNPL provider, warning of a missed payment, an account problem, or a refund waiting to be claimed. The message links to a convincing but fake login or payment page designed to capture your account details, card, or bank information. In some cases criminals who already have access use a victim's BNPL account to buy goods. Genuine providers contact you through their app and do not pressure you to confirm details through an unexpected link.

Example message pattern

Example pattern — not a real report
Example pattern: "PayLater Alert: your instalment payment of 42.00 has failed and your account is now on hold. Update your payment details within 12 hours to avoid late fees: [suspicious link]"

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

Red flags to watch for

  • An unexpected message claims a payment failed, your account is on hold, or a refund is waiting to be released.
  • You are urged to act within a short window to avoid late fees, account suspension, or a missed refund.
  • The link leads to a login or payment page that does not match the provider's usual app or official web address.
  • The message asks you to confirm full card details, online banking logins, or a one-time security code.
  • Greetings are generic, or small details such as the sender address or wording look slightly off.

What to do

  • Check your account only through the provider's official app or by typing their website address yourself.
  • Contact the provider using the support details inside their app if you are unsure about a message.
  • Never share one-time passcodes or banking logins, as legitimate providers will not ask for these via a link.
  • Report phishing texts and emails to your provider and to your national reporting service for scams.

If you already clicked or replied

  • Do not enter any login, card, or banking details, and close the page if nothing has been submitted.
  • If you entered details, change your BNPL and banking passwords immediately and turn on two-factor authentication.
  • Contact your bank and the BNPL provider to flag the account and watch for unauthorised purchases.
  • Review recent BNPL orders for any you did not make and dispute them with the provider promptly.

What not to do

  • Do not log in or update payment details through a link in an unexpected message.
  • Do not share one-time passcodes, even if the caller or page claims to be from the provider.
  • Do not ignore unfamiliar BNPL orders, as acting quickly improves your chance of reversing them.

Similar scams

Medium risk Online Shopping

Order Cancellation Scam

After or even without a real purchase, you get an email or text saying there was a problem and your order was cancelled or needs payment re-confirmation. A link leads to a fake page built to capture your account login and card details.
High risk Online Shopping

Fake Online Store Scam

This scam sets up a convincing but fake store with very low prices, takes payment, and delivers nothing, a counterfeit, or a cheap substitute.
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Social Media Shopping Ad Scam

This scam uses eye-catching, heavily discounted product ads in social media feeds to lure you to fake or dishonest online stores that take your payment and deliver nothing, or send a cheap counterfeit instead.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell a fake BNPL message from a real one?
Real providers usually direct you to manage payments inside their app rather than through links in texts or emails. Be cautious of urgent deadlines, requests for full card details or passcodes, and web addresses that do not match the provider. When in doubt, check your account directly in the official app.
A message says I have a refund waiting. Is that safe?
Unexpected refund messages are commonly used in scams, because the promise of money can make people lower their guard. Genuine refunds normally appear in your account or on your card without you needing to enter details on a separate page. Verify any refund through the official app first.
Someone used my BNPL account to buy things. What now?
Contact the BNPL provider straight away to report the unauthorised orders and freeze the account if possible. Change your password, enable two-factor authentication, and check that no other accounts share the same login. Keep records of the fraudulent orders to support any dispute.
Why do scammers favour BNPL services?
BNPL is widely used and linked to people's cards and bank accounts, which makes it an appealing target. Messages about instalments and missed payments also feel routine, so a warning can seem believable. Treating any unexpected payment alert with care helps you avoid falling for it.

Last reviewed: June 2026

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.