
Getting money back from a wire transfer can be a frustrating and time-consuming process, but there are steps you can take to increase your chances of success. You have 10 days to initiate a wire transfer reversal, so it's essential to act quickly.
If the wire transfer was made to the wrong account, you can contact the sender and ask them to initiate a reversal through their bank. This is often the fastest way to get your money back.
In some cases, you may be able to file a claim with the bank to dispute the transaction. This can be a more complicated process, but it's worth exploring if you're unable to get a reversal.
If you're not the sender, you can still try to get your money back by contacting the bank and explaining the situation. They may be willing to work with you to resolve the issue.
Recovering Stolen Funds
Recovering Stolen Funds is a challenging but not impossible task. You can use the Financial Fraud Kill Chain (FFKC) to recover your lost money, but it's only applicable to a fraudulent wire transfer if the amount is $50,000 or higher, the money is sent internationally, there's an initiated SWIFT recall notice, and the incident was reported to the FBI within the last 72 hours.
Time is of the essence when trying to recover stolen funds. The sooner you act, the better your chances are of getting your money back.
To maximize your chances of recovering stolen funds, you need to contact all the banks that may have received your funds. This includes any banks that the fraudsters may have transferred your money to. You'll need to ask to speak to their fraud department and request a SWIFT recall and a 'fraud freeze' on the recipient accounts.
To freeze an account, you'll need to provide information about the fraudulent transfers so the banks can identify the transfer and the account. Once the account is frozen, confirm with the bank how long the freeze will remain in place and that the SWIFT recall protocol has been initiated.
Here's a step-by-step guide to freezing accounts and initiating a SWIFT recall:
- Contact the bank's fraud department and request a SWIFT recall and a 'fraud freeze' on the recipient accounts.
- Provide information about the fraudulent transfers to the bank.
- Confirm with the bank how long the freeze will remain in place and that the SWIFT recall protocol has been initiated.
- Repeat the steps until all the accounts that received your money are frozen and the SWIFT recall protocol is in process.
Remember to write down the number you used to contact the bank, the time of the call, the name of the bank representative you spoke to, and their direct phone number and email address.
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Bank Process and Investigation
To initiate a SWIFT recall, inform your bank as soon as possible and provide all the necessary information about the wire transfer.
Your bank will contact the receiving bank to freeze the fraudster's account, and they may be able to help the authorities trace the money even if it's already been moved.
You'll need to ask your bank to contact the third bank (or banks) to freeze the accounts that received the money if it's already been moved.
To maximize your chances of retrieving some money, make a note of the banks and accounts that received your money as you'll need this information later.
If the funds have already been moved, you'll need to contact the banks that received the money and request a SWIFT recall and a 'fraud freeze' on the recipient accounts.
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Reach Out Quickly
If you're the victim of wire transfer fraud, reaching out to an attorney quickly is crucial. Filing a police report isn't enough, you'll need an experienced lawyer to help you recover your losses.
You should speak to an attorney as soon as possible, especially if you have insurance coverage for wire fraud losses. They can help you get the compensation you need.
An attorney can assist you in reducing your losses and knowing who to notify about the incident. They can also help you prevent it from happening in the future.
If your wire transfer was international, you may have a limited time frame to cancel it, usually within the first 30 minutes if the recipient hasn't claimed it.
Bank Investigation Process
You can initiate a SWIFT recall to stop a fraudulent wire transfer if it happened within a few minutes or hours ago. Inform your bank immediately and request a SWIFT recall notice.
Your bank will contact the receiving bank to freeze the fraudster's account, even if the funds were already moved. This can help the authorities trace the money.
To maximize your chance of retrieving some money, call your bank and let them know the transfer was fraudulent. Request a SWIFT recall to be initiated and have all the information about the wire funds transfer in front of you.
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You'll also need to ask your bank to contact the fraud department of the receiving bank to freeze the funds in the recipient account. Make a note of the banks and accounts that received your money as you'll need this information later.
If the funds have already been moved, ask the bank to find out where the money was sent and contact the third bank or banks to freeze the accounts that received the money. Repeat this process until all the accounts that received your money are frozen and the SWIFT recall protocol is in process.
Canceling and Reversing Transactions
You can cancel a wire transfer, but the chances of success depend on various factors. If the transfer was international, you might be able to cancel it within the first 30 minutes if the recipient hasn't already claimed it.
To cancel a wire transfer, check your transfer receipt for the time frame within which you can cancel the payment. If the transfer was sent through a remittance transfer provider, you may have a 30-minute window to reverse the transfer after processing it.
If you're using ACH or money transfer providers, you have a good chance of avoiding errors and reversals. However, if an error does occur, you can request a reversal under certain conditions: the account number was wrong, the amount was incorrect, the transfer was a duplicate, or the transfer date was incorrect.
With remittance transfer providers, you'll have a 30-minute window to reverse a transfer after processing it. You can find more information about this timeframe in the wire transfer receipt.
If the wire transfer was fraudulent, inform your bank as soon as possible and request a SWIFT recall notice. Your bank will contact the receiving bank to freeze the funds in the recipient's account, and they may be able to help the authorities trace the money.
To initiate a SWIFT recall, you'll need to provide your bank with all the information about the wire transfer. This includes the transfer amount, the recipient's bank account number, and the transfer date.
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Prevention and Awareness
Keeping a written log of all contact information related to parties involved in a real estate transaction can help you detect scammers. This includes the buyer, seller, title company, closing attorneys, and escrow agents.
Scammers often use phone numbers or emails that are similar, but you can spot the difference if you're aware. Be wary of any changes related to the closing, especially if the person providing the instructions is doing so with a sense of urgency.
Avoid discussing the closing process via email to prevent hackers from accessing your information. Always call to confirm any instructions and check account numbers for any wire transfers.
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How to Prevent
Prevention and awareness are key to protecting yourself from wire transfer scams. Keeping a written log of contact information for all parties involved in a real estate transaction is crucial. This includes the buyer, seller, title company, closing attorneys, and escrow agents. Be sure to check this information against what you have written to ensure it matches.

Scammers often use similar phone numbers or emails to trick victims. Be wary of any changes to the closing instructions, especially if they come with a sense of urgency. This could be a red flag, and it's essential to investigate further.
Email is not a secure way to discuss the closing process. Cybercriminals and hackers can access your email and discover valuable information. Always call to confirm any instructions and check account numbers for wire transfers.
You can minimize the risk of wire transfer errors by double-checking all the information you enter. This includes account numbers, SWIFT or IBAN codes, wire transfer routing numbers, and recipient information. Make sure to sign a wire transfer agreement if you're doing a business-to-business transfer.
Here's a list of information you'll need to make a wire transfer:
- Account numbers for both parties
- SWIFT or IBAN code for international transfers
- Wire transfer routing number
- Full name and address of the recipient
- Name and address of recipient's bank
Using an ACH money transfer system instead of wire transfers can also help deter scammers. By taking these precautions, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to wire transfer scams.
File a Complaint with IC3
Filing a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a crucial step in recovering from a wire fraud scam. You'll need to provide information about the transaction, the scam itself, and the victim.
To file a complaint, you'll need to provide details like the contents of the phishing email, links you clicked, etc. It's a good idea to make a note of the IC3 Complaint Number you receive, as you'll need it for the next steps.
Filing a complaint with the FBI is necessary, but it doesn't guarantee a real-time recovery effort. The FBI is flooded with complaints like yours each day, so you need to stay vigilant and be your own advocate for recovery.
In serious cases, the attacker may have installed malware on your machine or network, compromising your email and other credentials. If so, you need to act quickly to identify and eliminate the threat before other sensitive data can be used against you.
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International Transactions
International transactions can be tricky, but there are some general rules to keep in mind. If you've sent an international wire transfer, you might be able to cancel it within the first 30 minutes if the recipient hasn't claimed it.
For international wire transfers, the time frame for cancellation can be found in your transfer receipt. It's essential to check this document carefully.
If you've sent a remittance transfer with a remittance transfer provider, you may be able to cancel the payment within a specified time frame.
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PNC International
PNC International wire transfers allow you to send and receive money across borders with ease.
PNC offers international wire transfers, but be aware that fees, limits, and rates apply to these transactions.
To send an international wire transfer with PNC, you'll need to know the recipient's bank information, including their bank's name, address, and routing number.
PNC's international wire transfer fees can vary depending on the transaction amount, currency, and other factors.
Fees for sending international wire transfers with PNC can range from $15 to $75 or more per transaction.
Consider reading: International Money Wire Transfer Fee
First Horizon International
First Horizon International offers international wire transfers, but you'll need to know about their fees, limits, and rates before sending or receiving money across borders.
You can find all the details you need to know about First Horizon's international wire transfers in their dedicated article section.
International Fees, Limits, and Rates
When sending international wire transfers, it's essential to understand the fees involved. PNC charges a fee of $15 for international wire transfers, while First Horizon charges $25. Wells Fargo charges a fee of $15, but it varies depending on the transfer method.
You'll also need to consider the limits on international wire transfers. Chase Bank allows you to send up to $100,000 per transfer, while PNC has a limit of $50,000. First Horizon's limit is $50,000, and Wells Fargo's limit varies depending on the transfer method.
The exchange rates for international wire transfers can also impact the cost of your transfer. PNC uses the wholesale exchange rate for international wire transfers, while First Horizon uses the wholesale exchange rate plus a markup. Wells Fargo's exchange rate is also the wholesale rate, but it may vary depending on the transfer method.
It's worth noting that the fees, limits, and rates for international wire transfers can change over time. It's always a good idea to check with your bank for the most up-to-date information before making an international transfer.
Discover more: Wells Fargo Wire Money Fee
Sources
- https://www.lawyer-monthly.com/2023/05/white-collar-crime-can-you-still-recover-funds-from-wire-transfer-fraud/
- https://www.certifid.com/article/how-to-recover-from-wire-fraud
- https://wise.com/us/blog/can-a-wire-transfer-be-reversed
- https://sis-id.com/en/recovering-wire-transfers/
- https://www.paymints.io/2021/05/fraud-wire-transfer/
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