Verification guide
CBE Fake Receipt: How Merchants Can Spot and Stop Them
Fake CBE receipt apps and screenshot editors have become widely circulated in Ethiopia, making it trivial for fraudsters to produce convincing-looking Commercial Bank of Ethiopia transfer screenshots. The only reliable protection is live verification against CBE's official records - not visual inspection of the image.
How fake CBE receipts are made
Dedicated apps and image editors let anyone change the amount, name, reference, date, or receiver on a real CBE receipt screenshot. The result looks identical to a genuine receipt and passes any visual check. These tools are publicly available and easy to use.
What fake receipts cannot fake
The official CBE transaction record. When you run a live verification using the FT reference and your receiving account, CBE's system either confirms the transfer or doesn't. An edited screenshot produces an FT reference that fails or shows a different amount - catching the fraud before delivery.
Visual red flags (use as a secondary check only)
Blurry logo or misaligned font on the bank header, amount that does not match your order total, reference format that differs from standard FT + alphanumeric pattern, incorrect date or time relative to when the order was placed.
Steps
- 1.Never approve delivery based on the screenshot alone.
- 2.Ask for the FT reference number from the receipt.
- 3.Enter the FT reference and your full receiving CBE account in Check.et.
- 4.If the verification fails or the amount differs, reject the order and document the incident.
- 5.Train all counter staff to follow this flow for every CBE payment claim.
Frequently asked questions
Can fake CBE receipt apps create valid FT references?
No. Fake apps generate reference numbers that do not exist in CBE's system. Live verification returns a failure for any non-existent or mismatched reference.
What if the customer shows me the payment on their phone screen?
Screens can be pre-loaded with edited pages or older receipts. Require the FT reference and verify it live - this is the only reliable confirmation.
How often do fake CBE receipts fool merchants?
Fraud reports and viral social media posts show it happens daily across Ethiopian retail, food delivery, and e-commerce. The risk is highest for businesses that skip live verification.