What to Do If You Sent a Wire Transfer to a Scammer

A wire transfer feels final, but the first 24 to 72 hours are not. Many wires can be recalled — especially international ones — if you act fast. This guide walks you, your spouse, or your adult children through the exact steps and the right phone numbers. Time is the single biggest factor: the sooner the call, the better the chance.

Do this in the next hour. Call your bank’s fraud line (the number on the back of your debit card, not the customer-service line) and say: “I need to recall a wire transfer that was sent under fraud. Please open a fraud claim and request indemnity from the receiving bank.” If you’d rather talk to a person first, the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 will walk you through it.

Step 1 — Call your bank’s fraud line right now

Time matters. Domestic wires can sometimes be recalled within 24 hours; international wires within 72 hours. Tell the fraud agent: (a) the date and time of the wire, (b) the receiving bank and account, (c) the amount, (d) the wire confirmation number. Ask them to send a SWIFT recall request or, for domestic transfers, a Fedwire indemnification request.

Step 2 — File an FBI IC3 report — same day

Go to ic3.gov and file a complaint. The FBI’s Recovery Asset Team (RAT) can sometimes freeze funds at the receiving bank within two to three days. They require the IC3 complaint number to act. For wires over $50,000, call your local FBI field office directly after filing online.

Step 3 — Report to your state Attorney General

Your state AG’s consumer-protection division can pursue civil recovery and add your case to active investigations. Find your state’s office at naag.org/find-my-ag.

Step 4 — Place a fraud alert on your credit

Even if no other information was given to the scammer, file a free 90-day fraud alert with one credit bureau (it will share with the other two). Use Equifax 1-888-766-0008, Experian 1-888-397-3742, or TransUnion 1-800-680-7289.

Step 5 — Document everything

  • Save every text message, email, and voicemail from the scammer — do not delete.
  • Take screenshots of any websites, payment apps, or fake “customer service” pages they used.
  • Write down a timeline: when you were first contacted, when you sent the wire, who you spoke to at the bank.
  • Keep all documents in one folder; you will need them for IC3, FBI, AG, and your bank’s fraud investigator.

Common wire-transfer scams that target seniors

  • Tech support scam — fake “Microsoft” or “Apple” agent says your account was hacked; wire money for “protection.”
  • Romance / pig butchering scam — online relationship asks for emergency wire for medical, customs, or business reasons.
  • Grandparent scam — caller pretends to be a grandchild in jail asking for bail.
  • Real estate / title scam — fake “closing agent” sends new wiring instructions days before closing.

Why fast action matters

Wire transfers are processed by intermediary banks and can sit in queues for hours. Once the receiving account is emptied (often within 24-48 hours), the money is moved through layers of shell accounts or converted to cryptocurrency. After that, recovery is rare. The single best predictor of recovery is how fast you call the bank’s fraud line.

When to call for help

National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). Free, confidential, DOJ-staffed. Open Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Eastern Time. English, Spanish, and other languages available. They will help you identify what type of fraud occurred, document the incident, and connect you to the right reporting agencies.

Two rules that prevent most scams

Rule 1. If they called you, emailed you, or messaged you — hang up. Call back at a number you find yourself.

Rule 2. Never pay anyone in gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or by mail. Real bills are not paid these ways.