Secure ways to send money online

There are a few secure ways to send money online to family and friends living abroad. Ultimately, the best way is dependent on how and where you would like to send the funds, the fees involved and the transfer delivery speed.

If you’d like to find out everything there is to know regarding a few secure ways to send money online, our handy guide below includes a few helpful tips as well as possible transfer methods.

How do I send money abroad without having a bank account?

Are you looking for secure ways to send money online to a recipient overseas without having a bank account? One of the options you can consider is through PayPal. The family member or friend that will be receiving your funds will need to register an account with PayPal directly. Once this step is complete they will be able to receive a payment from you.

One of the reasons PayPal has become so popular is that it allows for high transfers to take place and offers free transfers for those living in the U.S. Bank account transfers are also free but those transferring with a debit or credit card will be forced to pay a transfer fee.

It’s possible to send or receive funds through PayPal using their website, mobile app or at PayPal.Me. This is where your friends and family can create their own link to send you a payment.

Mama Money

If you're located in South Africa and would like to send money to a family member or friend based in Africa, Asia or Europe, simply use MamaMoney for an affordable way to transfer your money abroad. You are able to send money transfers to around 50 countries around the world.

Simply register an account by visiting your nearest Mama Money agent or sign up for an account on your mobile phone by completing these easy steps below:

· Step 1 - Download the Mama Money app

· Step 2 - Enter your details

· Step 3 - Provide proof of your ID

· Step 4 - Submit a photo of yourself

Once your documents have been submitted using the Mama Money App, your account will be verified within 24 hours and you can start sending money abroad to your loved ones.

To send money locally or internationally using Mama Money follow the steps below:

Login to the Mama Money family App and select ‘’Send Money’’
Choose the recipient to who you are sending money
Enter the amount you would like to send and press ‘’Next’’
Select your preferred payment method and press ‘’Confirm & send’’

Google Pay

Did you know it’s possible to transfer funds for free to a loved one abroad using Google Pay? All you will need to have is a working internet connection, the recipient’s name, phone number and email address. The app also allows for instant transfers to debit cards for free but you are unable to use credit cards for transfers. .

GooglePay transfers take place using a QR code and have a maximum transfer limit of $5000 per week.

WorldRemit

If you’re looking to send money internationally, WorldRemit offers low cash transfer fees and you are able to send funds to loved ones in around 130 countries worldwide.

Users are required to have an account with WorldRemit in order to use the service and signing up is free. They offer various payment options including using a bank account, credit or debit cards, Google Pay and Apple Pay.

There are transfer fees involved for transactions and the rates vary depending on the location where you are sending the funds to.

Currencies Direct

If you're looking to send money out of South Africa to a loved one located overseas, Currencies Direct offers the opportunity to transfer funds to various locations worldwide. One of the advantages of using this service is that it includes a dedicated currency expert who will manage the entire process for you at no cost. There are also no hidden fees and no commission charges.

Venmo

Have you heard about Venmo, a currency app owned by PayPal? They offer a secure way to send money online that includes a social twist. Transactions that take place between people are shared with their friends but users also have the option to make their transactions and payment history private.

To use Venmo users are required to download their app and will be able to link their bank account to send money to people internationally for free. All that is required is the recipient’s Venmo username, their phone number or email address.

Wise

For another option to consider when looking for secure ways to send money online to loved ones, Wise (formerly known as TransferWise) offers the option for international transfers. Fast becoming a popular choice for borderless banking, money transfers can be completed through their platform. Payment options include direct debit, wire transfers, debit and credit card transactions and Apple Pay. There are fees involved and they are dependent on the currency being paid or converted to for the transaction.

OFX

If you’re looking for additional secure ways to send money online to a friend or family member overseas you may want to consider OFX. There are no outbound fees attached to this transfer method, regardless of the amount you send to a loved one.

The transfer service takes place online and allows you to make the transfer at the current exchange rate. There is also an option to transfer at a future rate so that you can target your ideal exchange rate and once that figure is reached the money will transfer automatically.

MoneyGram

For those looking to consider all options when it comes to secure ways to send money online, another transfer option to consider is MoneyGram.

It enables fast transfers to take place to bank accounts located abroad either as an online payment or as cash that can be collected in person. With MoneyGram you are able to send money to recipients worldwide in more than 200 countries.

When transferring to an international recipient the process is instant and will be completed in just a few minutes for delivery as cash pickup. Online transfers that are completed online or via your mobile phone will take a few hours to be completed and in some cases up to one business day.

Online bank account transfer (ACH Transfer)

Did you know ACH is actually short for “Automated Clearing House'', which refers to a network that focuses specifically on processing electronic payments and automated money transfers online? This transfer method allows the user to send money abroad to their loved ones without using paper checks or wire transfers.

It also eliminates credit card networks and cash transfers from the equation. There is a small risk attached to using this particular transfer method and as a result you will be limited to sending small amounts only. Typically your funds will reach your loved one abroad after 3-4 working days. One of the leading benefits of transferring funds to family or friends using an online bank transfer is that there are usually minimal to no bank charges involved.

Western Union

If you’re looking to transfer funds to a loved one abroad, consider Western Union to send and receive money. They have an extensive worldwide network of locations and offer a range of transfer options for users.

Choose from sending money directly on the Western Union website or using their mobile app to complete your transfer. There is also an option to transfer using cash or through an agent.

To find out more about secure ways to send money online to loved one located in several other countries around the world, follow Mama Money online via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn.