Do not be pressured into transferring funds abroad through your local bank on the hearsay that what they can offer is a truly secure method of money transfer as opposed to if you send money online, where you will be prone to internet fraud, hackers and the like. Most specialist money transfer companies operate online via secure and trusted websites. Look out for the security crests or symbols that are displayed on the home page; this is your guarantee that these websites have been vetted for safety and that they adhere to all online security guidelines. Remember that by using such specialist companies, you will be benefitting from a more competitive money transfer rate than would otherwise be offered by your bank.