Some scams do not use crypto at all at first. You are persuaded to send a normal bank transfer to buy an investment or to a trading platform. Because you pressed send yourself, this is called authorised push payment fraud. The good news is that a refund is often possible. Here is how to pursue one.
What authorised push payment fraud means
It simply means you made the payment yourself, but only because you were deceived. You were tricked into authorising it. Rules in several countries now expect banks to consider reimbursing victims of this kind of fraud, so it is worth asking firmly.
Act fast to try to stop the money
- Call your bank the moment you realise, using the number on your card.
- Say you are reporting an authorised push payment scam.
- Ask them to contact the receiving bank to try to recall or freeze the funds.
- Ask them to open a fraud claim and give you a reference.
- Report to the police and a fraud centre such as the Action Fraud or FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
Why speed decides a recall
If the scammer has not yet moved the money out of the receiving account, your bank may be able to claw it back. Within hours is far better than within days. This is why the first phone call matters more than a perfect written complaint.
Making the reimbursement case
- ✗ Explain plainly how you were deceived
- ✗ Show the promises made to you in writing
- ✗ List each payment with dates and amounts
- ✗ Include a police or fraud centre reference
- ✗ Point to any regulator warning about the platform
What the bank will look at
| In your favour | Clear deception and a believable story |
|---|---|
| In your favour | You acted quickly once you realised |
| They may ask | Whether warnings were shown and ignored |
| They may ask | Whether the payment was unusual for you |
If the bank says no
Ask for a written final response. Then escalate for free to a financial ombudsman or complaints body where you live. Many refusals are overturned at that stage, so do not give up after the first answer.
A note on crypto steps
If the scam later moved into crypto, for example you bought coins on an exchange with the transferred money, keep those records too. Your bank claim covers the transfer, while tracing and exchange reports cover the crypto side.
Avoid the second scam
No company needs to be paid to help you claim from your own bank. Anyone who contacts you offering to force a refund for a fee should be treated as a fresh scam.
Does every country have reimbursement rules?
No, but many are strengthening them. Ask your bank directly what applies to you.
What if I ignored a warning on screen?
You can still claim. Explain why the deception overcame the warning.
What to say on the first call
Keep it short and clear. Give the date, the amount and the name of who you paid. Say you were deceived into authorising it and that you are reporting fraud. Then ask three things: can the payment be recalled, can a reimbursement claim be opened, and what is my reference number. Write the answers down with the name of the person you spoke to.
The short version
- Call the bank within hours, not days.
- Ask about recall and reimbursement.
- Show the deception clearly.
- Escalate to an ombudsman if refused.
More help from ReclaimDC
- Crypto Chargeback on a Debit Card: Does It Work?
- How to Report a Crypto Scam to an Exchange
- Is Crypto Recovery Real, or Always a Scam?
- How to File a Crypto Scam Complaint That Gets Read
- Fake Fund Recovery Agents: How to Spot Them
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General information only, not financial advice. ReclaimDC does not promise any recovery outcome.
