In an era where technology has become part of our daily lives, financial crimes no longer start with millions as before, but sometimes begin with just one dinar. Yes, one dinar can open the door to a sophisticated scam built on trust, curiosity, and good intentions.

Recently, complaints have increased from citizens who transferred symbolic amounts sometimes not exceeding one dinar to strangers under the pretext of “testing a new payment system” or “verifying an account number,” only to later discover they fell into a well-crafted scam. The scammer does not want the dinar, but rather proof… proof that you financially dealt with them, which they later use as an excuse in fake lawsuits or false financial claims.

This simple trick can be legally exploited against the victim, as the financial transfer appears as evidence of “payment delivery” or “existence of obligation,” opening the door to civil or even criminal lawsuits, while the victim only intended to help or test.

These practices fall under what is known as symbolic fraud, where legal ignorance is exploited in a rapidly evolving digital environment. The issue is not the value of the dinar, but its legal impact. Scammers know that small amounts do not raise suspicion but open the door to exploiting legal loopholes. Returning the amount immediately from the start is the best solution, as Jordanian law considers refunding the amount before damage occurs as evidence of good faith, ending any suspicion or criminal liability.

Important prevention tips:

    • Do not transfer any amount to unknown persons regardless of the excuse.
    • Ignore any “symbolic” transfer requests under the pretext of testing or trial.
    • Use only official payment apps and verify the beneficiary’s identity.
    • Always keep records of transfers and any related conversations.
    • Report any attempted fraud immediately to the competent authorities.

Most importantly, do not underestimate small amounts; the smart scammer is not after money but a loophole in your awareness, and one dinar… may be the price that starts an endless scam story.