How to Safely Send Money Internationally Online Today

International money transfers don’t have to be scary.

Not anymore.

Remember waiting in endless lines to fill out complicated paperwork? Exorbitant fees you only found out about after your money was sent?

Sending money internationally is changing rapidly — and these days you can send money overseas faster, cheaper, and safer than ever before.

The problem is with choice.

There are now dozens of ways to send money overseas and it’s easy to pick the wrong platform and lose a big chunk of your money to unnecessary fees.

Don’t worry. We’ve put together everything you need to know to send money internationally safely.

Here goes.

What You’ll Learn

1. Why Sending Money Overseas Is Growing In Popularity
2. The 3 Biggest Risks (And How To Avoid Them)
3. How To Pick The Best Platform
4. 5 Safety Tips All Senders Should Follow
5. What To Look Out For With Fees

Why Sending Money Overseas Is Growing In Popularity

Let’s look at some figures.

Global remittances reached $905 billion in 2024 — up from $865 billion the year before, which represents a growth rate of 4.6% year-on-year. According to the World Bank, that growth isn’t expected to slow down anytime soon.

So who’s sending all this money?

Family. Friends. Business connections. Workers. There are many reasons — but for the majority of people sending money abroad, it’s a means of financial support. International transfers allow millions of people around the world to improve their lives, or even survive.

Digital adoption is also part of this story. 67% of senders prefer using a digital app over traditional methods when sending money, according to Visa’s new 2025 Money Travels report. By going digital, customers are able to get speed, security, and transparency all rolled into one easy transaction.

How To Pick The Best Platform

This is where people screw up.

Sending money overseas via traditional channels like your high street bank is normally going to be more expensive than using a dedicated money transfer service.

Here’s why.

Routing your payment through a bank could cost you up to 14.55% of the total transfer amount. Specialist providers have an average cost of around 5.4%.

If you regularly send higher amounts, that extra cost can really add up.

Want to transfer money to India from the UK? By using a specialist platform, you’ll get a better exchange rate and lower fees than what your bank will offer. The UK to India route is one of the most popular corridors for migrants sending money home to family. This creates intense competition between providers, which in turn benefits anyone who sends money.

When picking a platform, you want to look for several key things. Providers should be:

• Regulated and licensed — The provider should be authorised by an official financial regulator (eg: the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK).
• Upfront about fees — All fees should be displayed clearly before you go to confirm your transfer. This includes the margin built into the exchange rate.
• Clear about transfer times — How long will it take? Same day? Next day? Some providers are slower than others.
• Providing delivery options — Bank deposit? Mobile wallet? Cash pickup? Make sure they can deliver to the recipient in a way that works for them.
• Contactable if you need support — Transfers should go smoothly, but if there’s a problem you should be able to easily contact a real human being who can help.

The 3 Biggest Risks When Sending Money Overseas

Here’s something most articles won’t tell you.

Sending the money is rarely the risky part. Sending money internationally is extremely safe.

The risk comes in the form of scams.

When you transfer money internationally, that payment is normally irreversable. That means once the recipient receives the money, there’s no going back. Scammers know this.

They specifically target people who are sending money. Here are the most common scams you’ll come across:

• Impersonation scams: Fraudsters will pretend to be your bank, a government agency, or someone you know.
• Romance scams: Fraudsters establish a fake relationship online with their victim and then ask for money.
• Invoice fraud: A fraudulent invoice is sent to a company with tampered bank details.
• Phishing scams: Bogus emails or websites that attempt to steal your login details.

If you think you’ve been contacted by a scammer, stop what you’re doing. No company will ever rush you into making an international payment. Always triple-check with someone you trust if you’re not 100% sure.

5 Safety Tips All Senders Should Follow

This should be easy.

The most important things you can do to protect your money are simple. But they require you to take that extra bit of care.

1. Use a regulated platform only. This should go without saying, but check they’re regulated by the financial authority in their home country. (FCA register in the UK)
2. Double-check the recipients details. Sounds obvious, but a typo could send your money into cyberspace. Always triple check with the recipient — do not rely on copied/pasted emails.
3. Don’t use public Wi-Fi. Sending your transfer over public or unsecured internet is a big no-no. Use your phone’s data connection or a secure private network.
4. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). A good sending platform will offer 2FA on your account. Always enable it!
5. Keep records. Take a screenshot of the confirmation page every time you send money. Should a dispute ever arise, you’ll need this.

Sending money should be a safe process. If you ever feel uncomfortable, it’s better to stop and verify than send the money and worry later.

What To Look Out For With Fees

Before you send money overseas, know where the fees are coming from.

Few people understand that the exchange rate they’re offered by their platform is almost never the rate they’ll actually receive.

Platforms make their margin on what’s known as the “exchange rate spread.” This is the difference between the rate they show you and the rate they actually charge. They usually bundle this into the exchange rate you see, on top of any flat fee they may charge. Sneaky.

Ask questions.

• What is the mid-market rate? (Google it)
• How much is the flat fee?
• Are the fees percentage based on the amount I send?
• Where can I find the total cost before I confirm?

Digital only platforms also consistently beat their physical counterparts on price. Sending money digitally costs 5%, compared to 7% via non-digital channels, according to World Bank figures. If you’re not sure where to start, a good digital-only platform is a great place to look.

Wrapping Up: Here’s Your Checklist

Let’s recap:

• Use a specialist platform that is regulated by their local financial authority.
• Know who you’re sending to. Double and triple check those details.
• Never send from public WiFi. Never.
• Protect your account with 2FA and strong passwords.
• Be aware of scams. If you feel unsure about a call or email, stop what you’re doing and verify.

Send money internationally responsibly and it becomes a breeze.

Everyone will have different requirements when sending money overseas. The important thing is to know that by sticking to regulated providers, you’re already reducing the risk of running into problems.

Now that you know how to send money internationally safely, check out our guide on how to receive international payments here too!