If you’re searching do banks refund scammed money, you want a clear answer fast. Yes, UK banks can refund scammed money, and in many cases, they should.

Your chances depend mainly on how you paid (bank transfer vs card), whether the payment is treated as authorised or unauthorised, and how quickly you report it.

In the UK, many bank-transfer scams (called Authorised Push Payment “APP” scams) now fall under a mandatory reimbursement process for in-scope Faster Payments claims, where you can often expect a decision quickly and reimbursement typically within 5 business days, with a maximum outcome timeline of 35 business days if more information is needed.

The next step is working out which refund route applies to your payment, then acting quickly.

Do banks refund scammed money in the UK?

UK banks often refund scammed money, but the outcome depends on how you paid. Bank transfer scams may qualify for APP scam reimbursement (especially for in-scope Faster Payments), while card payments are usually handled through chargeback and credit card purchases may also be protected by Section 75.

Here’s the practical rule: the method of payment determines the best recovery method.

The detail matters here because it often determines whether you get your money back.

Authorised vs unauthorised: the single detail that changes everything

Banks and regulators treat scam losses differently depending on whether you authorised the payment.

• Unauthorised payment: you did not approve it (for example, a fraudster accessed your account and sent money, or your card was used without permission). This is classic fraud, and banks typically treat it as a stronger reimbursement case because you didn’t consent.
• Authorised payment: you did approve it, but you approved it because you were tricked, pressured, impersonated, or misled. This is where APP scams sit.

Most people who feel the bank should obviously refund me are in the authorised bucket, and that’s exactly why UK APP scam reimbursement rules matter so much.

What is an APP scam?

An Authorised Push Payment (APP) scam happens when a scammer manipulates you into sending money to them from your own bank account. Common examples include:

• Your account is at risk. Move money to a safe account now
• Fake courier/police/bank staff calls
• Romance scams
• Investment/crypto opportunities
• Marketplace scams (buyer/seller trickery)
• Fake rental deposits or tradespeople

You clicked send. But you did it because you were deceived.

What mandatory reimbursement really means and what it doesn’t

For many UK Faster Payments APP scams that are in scope, banks/payment firms follow a structured reimbursement process. The intent is that victims shouldn’t be left carrying the loss in most cases.

But mandatory reimbursement doesn’t mean every authorised scam will be refunded automatically. You still need to:

• Report promptly
• Provide clear evidence and a coherent timeline
• Cooperate with information requests
• Avoid behaviour that a bank could argue was “grossly negligent” (more on what that looks like, and how to defend your actions, below)

Do banks refund scammed money if you authorised the transfer?

Yes, often, especially if it was an in-scope APP scam and you act quickly.

Here are the key points to know:

1) Your bank will classify the case first

When you report the scam, the bank decides which bucket your case fits into:

• APP scam (authorised but deceived)
• Unauthorised fraud
• Civil dispute (this is the danger bucket; you want to avoid being put here if it’s truly a scam)

Civil dispute is where banks sometimes try to place cases that look like:

• I paid for an investment, and it went wrong
• I paid a seller, and I’m unhappy
• They promised something but didn’t deliver, and I authorised the payment

If your case is truly deception/fraud, you need to make that crystal clear early.

2) Timelines matter more than people realise

Banks are far more likely to succeed with recovery if you report:

• Immediately (same day)
• Before the money has been moved
• While the receiving account still has funds

Even if reimbursement rules apply, speed strengthens your case because it shows you acted responsibly and reduces arguments about delay.

3) There’s usually a reimbursement limit (cap)

APP scam reimbursement under the main Faster Payments approach has a maximum reimbursement level. If your loss is above the cap, you may still have options (complaints, ombudsman escalation, partial reimbursement, or pursuing other recovery paths), but you should prepare for a tougher journey.

4) “Gross negligence” is the most common refusal angle and it’s often misunderstood

Banks may refuse if they believe you acted with gross negligence. This sounds harsh, but in practice, it often comes down to: did you ignore strong, clear warnings and do something extremely risky?

Examples that can trigger this argument:

• You were shown multiple strong warnings and bypassed them
• You knowingly lied to the bank to get a payment through (some scammers coach victims to do this)
• You ignored an obvious mismatch in payee details (where name-checking tools were available)

Being tricked isn’t the same as being negligent; these scams are designed to look convincing. Skilled scams are designed to bypass your instincts.

How to protect yourself in a claim

When you describe what happened, show:

• Why it was believable (impersonation tactics, spoofed numbers, realistic documents)
• Any checks you did (searches, confirming details, asking questions)
• The pressure you were under (time pressure is a classic manipulation tool)
• Any vulnerability factors (health, stress, bereavement, neurodivergence, language barriers)

Don’t over-explain. Be factual and timeline-driven.

Can a bank reverse a bank transfer scam?

Sometimes, but don’t rely on it. There are two parallel tracks:

Track A: Recovery attempt (recall/freeze)

Your bank may try to recover funds by contacting the receiving bank to freeze and return the money. Success depends on:

• Whether the money is still there
• How fast you reported
• Whether the receiving account has been drained or forwarded to other accounts

Track B: Reimbursement decision

If your case is eligible for APP scam reimbursement, reimbursement is about making you whole, not necessarily about successfully clawing the funds back from the scammer.

In practice, ask your bank to do both of the following:

1. Start the scam claim/reimbursement process
2. Attempt immediate recovery/freezing actions

Do banks refund scammed money paid by card?

Often, yes, and your best tool is usually a chargeback.

Chargeback is a dispute process run through card networks. You typically use it when:

• You paid a merchant (online or in-person)
• The goods/services were not delivered
• The seller misrepresented what you bought
• You were charged incorrectly or fraudulently

The most common chargeback mistake is leaving it too late.

Many chargeback routes have time limits commonly framed around 120 days. Don’t spend weeks arguing with a scammer’s support team, hoping they’ll refund you. Start the dispute route as soon as it’s clear you’ve been deceived.

What chargeback is best at

Chargeback tends to perform well in clean scenarios where a card purchase clearly failed:

• Non-delivery
• Counterfeit goods
• Hidden subscription billing
• Services not provided

Where chargeback struggles

Chargeback can be harder when:

• You paid by bank transfer (not a card transaction)
• The purchase is hard to evidence (no receipts, no merchant record)
• It’s an investment or person-to-person scenario rather than a merchant transaction

Section 75 (credit cards): when it’s your strongest weapon

If you used a credit card to pay for something that cost more than £100 and up to £30,000, you may have protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. In simple terms, your card provider can be jointly responsible when a supplier breaches a contract or misrepresents what was sold.

When Section 75 can be especially useful

• Big-ticket purchases (holidays, electronics, services)
• Situations where the merchant is unresponsive or disappears
• Cases where you have a clear contract and a clear misrepresentation

One nuance: Section 75 can get complicated if you paid through certain intermediaries or payment arrangements. If your payment path was unusual (third-party processors, wallets, mixed payments), you may still have options, just be prepared that the lender might initially resist, and you may need to complain/escalate.

What to do in the first 24 hours after being scammed

This is the part that most affects your chances of getting the money back. What you do now affects recovery odds and how credible your claim looks.

• Contact your bank immediately using the number in your banking app or on the back of your card. Say: I need to report a scam payment and start the refund process. Ask to be transferred to the fraud team.
• Ask the bank to attempt recovery (freeze/recall) if it was a transfer, and to start the APP scam claim process where applicable.
• Secure your accounts: Change passwords, update passcodes, remove unknown devices, enable strong security/2FA, and check for new payees or scheduled payments.
• Preserve evidence fast: Screenshot chats, emails, the listing/website, bank payment confirmation screens, receipts, and anything showing what you were promised.
• Stop further leakage: If you gave remote access to your device, disconnect and seek trusted technical help; if you shared ID documents, consider protective steps to reduce identity misuse.
• Report the scam through the UK reporting route (and keep your reference number if you get one).

If you’re handling a scam refund claim while also dealing with wider banking admin after a bereavement, you may find it helpful to read What happens to bank account when someone dies without a will in the UK, as account access and authority can affect how quickly banks can act on reports and reimbursements.

Next, write down a quick timeline while it’s still fresh; even rough notes can help your claim.

Evidence that actually wins scam refund cases

Banks don’t just decide based on sympathy. They decide based on whether the file is consistent, evidenced, and clearly categorised.

The evidence checklist

How to write your claim so it’s hard to dismiss

Use a short, structured format:

1. How you were contacted
2. What they claimed and why you believed it
3. What you were paying for
4. The exact payment details (amount/date/method)
5. When you realised it was a scam
6. What you did immediately after
7. What outcome you want (refund + fees/interest)

This structure prevents your case from being misfiled as a civil dispute.

Why banks refuse refunds and how to respond effectively

When banks refuse refunds, the reasons tend to follow a few familiar patterns.

This is a civil dispute, not a scam

Response strategy: show deception, not dissatisfaction.

• Evidence that the identity was fake or impersonated
• Show false claims (fake documents, spoofed numbers, cloned websites)
• Show pressure tactics (“pay now or lose access”, “keep it secret”, “don’t tell the bank”)

You authorised it, so we can’t help

Response strategy: reframe it as an APP scam deception.

• I authorised the payment because I was deceived/impersonated/pressured
• Provide the manipulation evidence and timeline

You ignored warnings / you were negligent

Response strategy: show reasonable care in context.

• Any checks you did (even small ones matter)
• Why it was believable (spoofing, convincing documentation)
• Any factors affecting judgement (vulnerability, coercion, time pressure)

You’re out of time

Response strategy: confirm key dates and dispute the timeline only if you’re sure.

• Provide the transaction date
• Provide the date you discovered the scam
• Provide the date you first reported it

Complaints and the Financial Ombudsman route when the bank won’t refund you

If you’re refused or you feel the bank mishandled your case, don’t stop at the first “no”.

Your escalation path

• Step 1: Complain to the bank in writing (email or secure message). Keep it factual. Attach your timeline and key evidence.
• Step 2: Wait for the bank’s final response (or for the complaint window to pass).
• Step 3: Escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service if you’re still unhappy, especially if you believe the bank misclassified your case, ignored evidence, or applied unreasonable standards.

What to ask for

• Refund of the scam loss (where applicable)
• Refund of fees/interest caused by the scam
• A clear written explanation of the decision and the evidence considered
• Compensation for distress/inconvenience (where justified)

If you need to escalate, keep it simple: timeline first, evidence second, then one clear sentence on what outcome you’re asking for.

Edge cases people worry about and what usually happens

Crypto and investment scams

These can be difficult because banks sometimes try to categorise them as a civil dispute (you chose to invest). Your best chance is to prove:

• The “investment” was fraudulent or impersonated
• You were misled about regulation, returns, or identity
• You were pressured or coached to bypass warnings

Even when reimbursement is harder, complaints and ombudsman escalation can still be worth it if the bank’s handling was poor or key red flags were ignored.

Gift cards, cash, and money sent to individuals

These are harder because:

• Gift card codes can be redeemed instantly and anonymously
• Cash is effectively unrecoverable
• Person-to-person payments can lack merchant protections

You can still report and complain, but expectations should be realistic.

International transfers

International wires and cross-border payments often have weaker recall success and may fall outside certain reimbursement approaches. Still, report immediately; recovery odds drop quickly after funds leave the first receiving account.

How people talk about this topic online

Are these payments a scam? The bank has no idea where they came from
byu/Ok-Neat-4410 inAskUK

Bank not going to refund my money??? England
byu/FairEast760 inLegalAdviceUK

[UK] Fallen for a bank scam, what are the chances I’ll get my money back?
byu/ShoeWasher inScams

Victim of a scam – what do I do after this?
by inUKPersonalFinance

FROM 7TH OCTOBER: UK banks must refund fraud victims up to £85,000 within five days under new rules. Refunds become mandatory from 7th October.
by inUKPersonalFinance

Conclusion

So, do banks refund scammed money in the UK? Yes, often, but only if you use the right route for how you paid and you act quickly. If it was a bank transfer scam, treat it as an APP scam claim and push for reimbursement and recovery attempts. If it was a card payment, start a chargeback promptly, and consider Section 75 if it was a qualifying credit card purchase.

FAQ

How long does it take to get a scam refund from a UK bank?

It depends on the route. In many in-scope APP scam claims, reimbursement is often expected quickly (commonly framed around days rather than months). Chargeback timelines vary by bank and card network, and complex cases can take longer if evidence is missing.

Can a bank refuse to refund a scam?

Yes. Common refusal reasons include misclassification as a civil dispute, alleged negligence, missing evidence, or eligibility issues. A well-structured complaint with a clear timeline and attachments often improves outcomes.

Is chargeback guaranteed?

No. Chargeback is a card-network dispute process, not a guarantee. But it’s frequently effective for non-delivery and misrepresentation.

Is Section 75 better than chargeback?

If you qualify, Section 75 can be stronger because it’s legal protection tied to credit card purchases in the qualifying price range. Many people use both routes strategically: chargeback for speed, Section 75 for leverage if needed.

Author note

I wrote this guide using UK banking and consumer-protection guidance, focusing on what most affects whether you can get scammed money back: how you paid, whether the payment was authorised or not, and how quickly you report it. It’s practical, evidence-led information to help you pursue the right route (APP scam claims, chargeback, or Section 75) and escalate if needed.