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RECOVERY

I sent a wire transfer to a scammer — what do I do now?

Call your bank right now. Wire transfers can sometimes be recalled if you act within hours — but once the funds are withdrawn at the other end, recovery becomes very unlikely. Every minute matters.

In an active crisis?

  • Call your bank
  • Call the platform (Amazon, PayPal, MobilePay, etc.)
  • Call local police

Important — watch out for a second scam: Be very careful of anyone who contacts you promising to get your money back — especially for an upfront fee. No legitimate company or government agency guarantees recovery of scammed funds. Recovery-scam operators specifically target people who have just been scammed. Paying them is a second scam. Never pay a fee to recover money, and never give your details to an unsolicited "fund recovery" service.

Step 1 — Call your bank immediately

Do this now: Call your bank's fraud line — the number is on the back of your card or on your bank's official website. Tell them you have sent a wire transfer to a scammer and ask them to attempt a recall. Give them the date, time, amount, and the recipient account details if you have them.

Banks can sometimes recall a wire transfer if it has not yet been processed or if the receiving bank cooperates. This window is short — often just a few hours for domestic transfers, and longer but less certain for international transfers. The sooner you call, the better your chances.

Important: Do not use any phone number given to you by the scammer. Use only the number on the back of your card or on your bank's official website.

Step 2 — If you used a wire service (Western Union, MoneyGram)

Do this now: If you sent money through Western Union or MoneyGram, call their fraud lines immediately. If the money has not yet been picked up by the recipient, they may be able to stop the transfer. Have your transfer reference number ready.

  • Western Union fraud line: visit westernunion.com or call 1-800-448-1492 (US). For other countries, use the number on Western Union's official website.
  • MoneyGram fraud line: visit moneygram.com or call 1-800-926-9400 (US). For other countries, use the number on MoneyGram's official website.

Note: these numbers are published on the official Western Union and MoneyGram websites. Always verify the number on the official site before calling — do not use a number from a search result or from any communication with the scammer.

Step 3 — Report to the authorities

Report the scam immediately. A police report or official fraud report may be required by your bank to process a recall request, and it creates a record that supports your case.

Step 4 — Be honest about what happened

When you speak to your bank, tell them exactly what happened — including that you authorised the transfer because you were deceived. Banks distinguish between unauthorised fraud (someone used your account without your knowledge) and authorised push payment (APP) fraud (you were tricked into sending the money yourself). In the UK, APP fraud victims now have mandatory reimbursement rights under Payment Systems Regulator rules. In other countries, policies vary — but being honest and complete gives your bank the best information to work with.

Important: Keep records of everything — the date and time of the transfer, the recipient details, all communications with the scammer, and every conversation with your bank. Note the name of every bank representative you speak to.

You've taken the right steps: You have called your bank, contacted the wire service if applicable, and reported to the authorities. You have done what you can. This is not your fault.

What happens next

Your bank will open an investigation. If the recall is unsuccessful and your bank declines your claim, you may be able to escalate to a financial ombudsman. In the UK, the Financial Ombudsman Service handles disputes between consumers and banks. In the US, you can escalate to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov/complaint/.

This is not your fault. Wire transfer scams are among the most common and most damaging types of fraud. Acting quickly is the right thing to do.

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This page was last reviewed: June 27, 2026.
Recovery pages are drafted with AI assistance, then reviewed line-by-line by the editor, sourced against official reporting authorities, and tested for tone and clarity before publication.