[pjc50]

What happens when you "pay money, don't receive thing"?

[goldenkey]

You stick a fork in it! ;-)

[SmurfJuggler]

There's the same amount of risk as with any other cash transaction, except a receipt exists which can never be lost or altered.

If you're not dealing with dodgy people, the big pain points are getting it, and keeping it safe once you have it.