Freezing Thousands of Payoneer Cards: What Happened and What It Means
In June 2020, thousands of freelancers and businesses faced frozen funds as Payoneer’s card issuer, Wirecard, collapsed under fraud investigations. Here’s the full breakdown.
- Cause: Wirecard, Payoneer’s card issuer, was exposed in a multi-billion fraud scandal.
- Impact: Freelancers and businesses lost temporary access to funds loaded on their Payoneer cards.
- Aftermath: Regulators and Payoneer worked to restore access, but trust was shaken.
What Happened
In June 2020, German fintech giant Wirecard, which issued Payoneer’s prepaid Mastercards, collapsed after admitting €1.9 billion was missing from its accounts. Regulators froze Wirecard’s activities, which immediately locked thousands of Payoneer cards worldwide.
Impact on Freelancers and Businesses
Many freelancers who relied on Payoneer for payouts—especially in emerging markets—found themselves unable to withdraw money for weeks. This caused hardship for those dependent on client payments, affiliate earnings, or freelance platforms.
Steps Taken by Payoneer
Payoneer worked with regulators to restore access. Eventually, funds were confirmed safe and withdrawals resumed, but the incident raised awareness about the risks of depending solely on third-party issuers.
Lessons Learned
- Diversify your payout methods—don’t rely only on one provider.
- Keep backup financial accounts for emergencies.
- Follow regulatory and corporate updates on payment platforms you use.
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