Before you hit "Confirm transfer," run this one checklistThe pre-send checklist: your last step before sending or signing up

By Zhou Lan · Updated 18 Jun 2026 · about 7 min

This is a single "last step before you act" checklist that pulls the points scattered across RemitPath's other guides into one tick-box page. It's for people who've already chosen a channel, are ready to send money, or are about to sign up at an exchange — three minutes to run through each item before you confirm. It isn't for anyone still unsure which method to use; for that, start with the four-way comparison. A cross-border transfer is often hard to undo once it leaves, and these three minutes spare you most wasted money and most scams.

How to use this checklist

The checklist comes in four groups: channel and amount received, official domain and security, recipient details and compliance, and when to stop right away. Go through them in order, tick each one off in your head (or on paper), then act. If any one won't tick, stop and fix it first — don't send money out with an open question. There's a full checklist at the end you can screenshot or print to check against on the spot.

1. Channel & amount received

Whether the money goes far is decided before you send. Check these to dodge the most common "zero-fee" trap:

• You've compared "how much the recipient receives" across two or three providers, not just what the fee says. For how to compare, see how fees and the margin eat your money.
• The channel matches how the recipient collects (if they can only take cash, don't pick a bank-deposit-only method).
• On a large wire, you've confirmed who pays the intermediary fee, so the recipient isn't deducted again.
• If you're weighing stablecoins, you've added up all three legs — buy, on-chain and cash-out — not just the "almost free on-chain" line.
• You've noted the expected arrival time, so money you need urgently isn't caught by a weekend or holiday delay.

2. Official domain & account security

This group is the core of avoiding scams. Nine times out of ten, a scam lands on "clicking a fake link" or "handing over something you shouldn't":

• You've confirmed the official domain yourself, character by character, in the address bar — not arriving at a login or sign-up page via a strange link, a forwarded message or a search ad.
• Your account has two-factor authentication (2FA) on, and the password isn't reused from another site.
• You haven't logged in on a public computer, an internet café, or someone else's phone; log out as soon as you're done.
• You're clear on one thing: no legitimate platform will ask you for your password, OTP, private key or seed phrase — whoever asks is a scammer.
• You haven't installed remote-control software or shared your screen at a stranger's request. For more tactics, see money transfer scams & safety.

3. Recipient details & local compliance

The money reaches the right person, the recipient can use it, and both sides are acting lawfully — only then is the transfer truly a success:

• The recipient's name, country, and account or collection method are checked character by character (a lot of losses come from a detail typed wrong).
• The recipient has confirmed they can receive and use it — for stablecoins especially, they need a reliable, lawful cash-out route and the know-how to use it.
• You've kept the transaction receipt or reference number, so you can query the platform with it if anything goes wrong.
• Fees and rates are whatever the provider's page shows in real time; distrust any "fixed promotional rate" claim.
• You and the recipient have each confirmed the law where you are allows sending and receiving this way — this site doesn't rule on compliance for any country.

4. When to stop right away

If, at the final check, any one of the signs below appears, stop and don't pay another cent:

• Someone claims to be the platform's support or security team, contacts you out of the blue, and pushes you to transfer or to share an OTP (a legitimate platform won't reach out to you like this).
• They rush you — "act now, limited slots" — leaving no time to verify the official domain.
• They promise gains with no downside, returns that can't fail, or recommend an "insider coin" that will surge.
• They want you to send the money to a "private escrow account" first before funds are released.

The full checklist in one place

Here are the four groups pulled into one, so you can screenshot or print it and tick each item before you act:

• Compared "amount the recipient receives" across two or three providers, not just the fee.
• Channel matches how the recipient collects; on a large send, confirmed who pays the intermediary fee.
• For stablecoins, added up all three legs (buy + on-chain + cash-out) and run a small test through first.
• Confirmed the official domain myself in the address bar; didn't click a strange link.
• Account has 2FA on; didn't log in on a shared or public device.
• Never hand over my password, OTP, private key or seed phrase to anyone.
• Recipient's name, country, and account or collection method checked character by character.
• Kept the transaction receipt or reference number.
• Fees and rates go by whatever the provider's page shows in real time.
• Both sides confirmed the law where they are allows it.
• Stop right away at any "pay first before you can receive or withdraw."

Common questions

Does this checklist apply to every way of sending money?
Yes. Whether you use a bank wire, a transfer app, Western Union or stablecoins, the core items — compare the amount received, confirm the official domain, check the recipient details, be wary of "pay first" — all hold. Stablecoins just add two more: "the three-leg total" and "can the recipient cash out."

I already sent it and only then realised I didn't check — what now?
First, keep the transaction receipt or reference number, and contact the platform's support through the official domain right away to query it or request help; if you suspect a scam, follow the steps in money transfer scams & safety to stop paying, keep evidence and report it to your local police.

Will you operate or receive the money for me?
No. We only provide guides and checklists — we never register, receive money or act for you, and never ask for any password or seed phrase.

Where to verify: each transfer service's and exchange's fees and rules go by its current official page; cross-border costs can be cross-checked against public data such as the World Bank's "Remittance Prices Worldwide." This article is education, not investment or legal advice.
Update note (18 Jun 2026): first version — pulls the key points from each guide into one tick-box pre-send checklist.