How to spot a fake bank transfer before handing over what you sell

26 octubre 2026 · 01:36

(hora de La Paz)

By Erick León

Guides for Mexico · Practical information

An image of a payment receipt is not enough

When selling a phone, computer or other product, a screenshot may show a different transaction, have been altered or refer to a pending payment. Independently confirm receipt through your institution’s official app or channel before handing over the item. Do not open buyer-supplied links to “release” the money.

Check your own account first

Look for the transaction, amount, date and availability of funds. Do not confuse a notification, a deposit through another method or a pending transaction with a credited transfer. If unsure, consult your institution before proceeding. A rushed purchase does not oblige you to accept a receipt you cannot verify.

What Banco de México’s CEP is

The Electronic Payment Receipt, or CEP, documents the crediting of a SPEI transfer according to information reported by the receiving institution. The official lookup is at banxico.org.mx/cep/. Use Banco de México’s domain and avoid similarly named websites. CEP is not a mechanism for verifying every type of payment.

What you need to look it up

The form requests transaction details such as the date, reference or tracking key, participating institutions and, depending on the query, beneficiary account and amount. Use the actual details and check that the result matches your transaction. Do not share passwords, PINs or security codes: another person does not need them to pay you.

The absence of a CEP does not by itself prove fraud

Information may be delayed, or a status may require clarification. Banco de México distinguishes payment processing from the information needed to generate the receipt. If there is a discrepancy, keep the details and consult the bank. Do not hand over the product under pressure while you still cannot independently confirm receipt.

If asked to return an alleged overpayment

Do not transfer to a different account solely because someone claims to have made a mistake. First verify the origin and consult your institution about how to proceed. Keep messages and receipts; if you already handed over an item and suspect fraud, gather evidence for the appropriate authority. Confirming a transfer reduces one risk but does not establish the buyer’s identity or good faith.