To spot a fake payment slip, never rely on how the slip looks. Check that the money actually arrived in your own bank app or notification, compare the amount, time and receiver details, and scan the small verification QR code on the slip with a slip checker to confirm the reference and detect a slip that has been used before.
Transfer slips from Thai mobile-banking apps are a convenient way to show that a payment was made. Shops, online sellers and landlords see them every day. Because a slip is only an image, though, it can be edited, reused or borrowed from someone else's transfer. This guide explains what to look for and how to check properly.
Why fake slips work
A transfer slip is a picture that a banking app creates after a transfer. The sender can save it, share it in a chat or show it on their phone. That makes slips useful, but it also means anyone with an image editor can change a name, an amount or a date, and anyone can screenshot a genuine slip and show it again later.
Fake slips succeed mostly because of time pressure. A seller at a busy counter glances at a phone, sees a familiar green or purple screen with the right amount, and hands over the goods. Online sellers face the same problem when a buyer sends a slip in a chat and asks for the item to be shipped quickly.
Signs that a slip may be edited
Edited slips are sometimes obvious and sometimes very convincing. Look for these warning signs:
- Fonts that do not match. The amount or name is in a slightly different typeface, size or weight from the rest of the slip.
- Misaligned text. Numbers sit a little higher or lower than the labels next to them, or the spacing looks uneven.
- Blurry or sharp patches. One area looks sharper or more blurred than the rest, which can happen when text is pasted in.
- Wrong details. The receiver name, account digits or PromptPay ID are not exactly yours, or the bank shown is not the one you use.
- Odd date or time. The time does not match when the customer said they paid, or the date is from another day.
- A cropped image. Parts of the slip, especially the verification QR code, are cut off or hidden.
- Pressure. The sender insists you release goods immediately, or refuses to wait a minute while you check.
None of these signs proves a slip is fake, and a slip with none of them can still be fake. Visual checks are only a first filter.
The only real proof: your own bank account
The most reliable fake slip check is not on the slip at all. A payment is confirmed only when the money appears in your own account. Before you hand over goods or ship an order:
- Open your own banking app or merchant app, not anything the customer sends you.
- Find the incoming transfer in your notifications or account history.
- Check that the amount matches the slip and the bill.
- Check that the time is close to the time on the slip.
- If the sender's name is shown, check that it matches the customer.
If you cannot find the transfer, do not hand over the goods yet. Transfers between Thai banks usually arrive quickly, but networks can occasionally be slow, so ask the customer politely to wait and check their own app for a failed or pending transfer.
For shops with staff, make it a rule that whoever releases goods must see the incoming notification, not just the customer's phone. Our guide to PromptPay QR codes for shops covers how to set this up at the counter.
The verification QR code on Thai bank slips
Most slips from Thai mobile-banking apps include a small QR code, usually near the bottom. This is not a payment code and you cannot pay with it. It is there so the transfer can be verified.
The code typically carries data such as the sending bank and a transaction reference. Scanning it lets a checker read that reference and compare it with the details printed on the slip. It also helps detect reused slips: if the same reference has already been checked once, a second appearance is a strong warning that someone is showing an old slip again.
Keep in mind what this code can and cannot do:
- Reading the QR code shows what the code contains. It does not by itself prove that the transfer succeeded or that it was sent to you.
- Confirming a transaction with the bank requires a slip-verification service that is connected to bank data.
- A missing, cropped or unreadable code is a reason to be more careful, not a reason to accept the slip.
Using a slip checker
A slip checker reads the verification QR code from a slip image or from the camera, and shows the information it finds. QR-TH offers a free slip checker that reads the code in your browser. It helps you see the bank and reference behind a slip and notice when the same slip turns up again.
A good routine looks like this:
- Ask for the slip image, or scan the code on the customer's screen.
- Run it through the slip checker and compare the result with the amount, date and receiver shown on the slip.
- Confirm the money in your own bank app or notification.
- Only then release the goods.
Steps 2 and 3 work together. The checker catches reused and doubtful slips quickly, and your bank app confirms the money is really there.
What to do if you receive a fake slip
If you find that a slip is fake, stay calm and keep yourself safe. Do not confront an aggressive person on your own.
- Keep the slip image, chat messages, the buyer's account or phone number, and any delivery details.
- Note the date, time and amount.
- Do not ship or hand over any more goods to the same person.
- Report the case to the police, and contact your bank for advice.
- Warn your staff and, if you sell online, check whether the same buyer has placed other orders.
Fake slips sit alongside other payment tricks, such as fake QR stickers placed over a shop's code. Our article on QR payment safety explains those too.
FAQ
Can I tell a fake slip just by looking at it?
Sometimes, from mismatched fonts or wrong details, but a well-edited or reused slip can look perfect. Always confirm the payment in your own bank app.
What is the small QR code on a bank transfer slip?
It is a verification code that carries information such as the sending bank and a transaction reference. It lets a checker confirm the reference and spot a slip that has been used before. You cannot pay with it.
Does scanning the slip's QR code prove the money arrived?
Not on its own. Confirming a transfer with the bank needs a slip-verification service connected to bank data, and the simplest proof is still the incoming transfer in your own account.
Is a screenshot of a slip enough for online orders?
No. Treat any slip or screenshot as a claim, not proof. Ship only after the payment appears in your account.
A careful fake slip check takes less than a minute and can save you a lost sale. Try the free slip checker on the next slip you receive, and make "check my own bank app" a habit for everyone who takes payments.