Most sellers find out their POP was fake after the goods are gone. Here's what fraudsters actually do, and what to look for before you find out the hard way.
A real POP from a previous (smaller) transaction, edited in a photo app to change the amount. The fonts often don't quite match — a tell our forensic layer is built to catch.
A blank "proof of payment" template downloaded from a scam forum and filled in with your details. No real transaction ever happened.
A genuine payment that's sent — then reversed or disputed minutes later, after the seller has already released goods based on the screenshot.
A real-looking POP from a bank that doesn't match the claimed account — relying on the seller being in a hurry and not checking carefully.
Genuine bank apps render every field in the same typeface. Edited amounts often use a slightly different font, weight, or kerning.
Real transactions always carry a unique reference. Its absence — or an oddly short one — is one of the strongest fraud signals we check.
Screenshots carry hidden file data. A "just now" payment with file metadata from three weeks ago is a major red flag.
Photo editors leave faint compression artifacts around altered text — invisible to the eye, but detectable algorithmically.
Scammers alter logos slightly when faking a screenshot. Compare it pixel-by-pixel against the bank's real app if you're unsure.
Ask the buyer to read you the reference number over a call. Fraudsters faking a POP usually can't produce one that checks out.
A payment screenshot claiming "just now" should match your own bank notification time — within a minute or two.
The amount on the POP should exactly match your invoice, and the recipient name should be your registered account name.
Forwarding strips metadata. Always ask for the original file, not a re-shared screenshot of a screenshot.
An exact R1000.00 or R5000.00 with no cents is statistically rare on real bank transfers — most genuine payments include odd cents.
Each South African bank uses a specific, consistent font in its app. A mismatched font anywhere on the screenshot is a clear red flag.
The single most reliable check: ask the buyer to share the transaction directly from their banking app, not a screenshot.
POPcheck runs all 8 of these checks automatically, in under a minute.