Conducting financial transactions online is very convenient and fast. Since there is no need to spend time going to the bank, to a terminal, or to the post office. Internet earnings are also very popular. But it is worth remembering that the Internet is a place where many fraudsters operate, who "appetizingly" hunt for users' funds. Are there any methods used to get money back from scammers?
Fraudsters constantly develop strategies to deceive people. Citizens are often careless and give their savings to criminals. After which they completely despair, asking the question: is there anything that can be done in this situation? It is not always possible to return what was stolen by fraudsters. But it is worth doing this by various methods.
How to return funds stolen from bank cards
If it happens that a person sent money from a card to fraudsters, first of all, you need to contact the bank and report the erroneous transfer. This can be done by calling the hotline or contacting the online banking chat. A consultation with a bank specialist will help determine the next steps. As a rule, a written request is made to cancel the transfer. For this, the circumstances of the money transfer, the exact date, amount, and details of the recipient are indicated. It is essential to take a copy of this appeal.
In case the bank does not help resolve the issue, it is necessary to file a report with the police. Before contacting law enforcement, it is worth gathering as much evidence as possible: for example, screenshots of social media conversations, money transfer receipts.
If there is not enough basis for initiating a case, it is recommended to file a lawsuit against the fraudster – it is better to do this with the support of a lawyer. Usually, court proceedings are not quick and can drag on for several months. But the chance to return the money is very high.
Mechanisms for money return refund and chargeback>
Refund policy is a mandatory document for online stores, brokerage platforms, investment sites, and other organizations. It regulates the conditions for the return of products (investments) to the buyer (investor).
Refunds can be of the following types:
- Compensation for the price of the product without returning it to the seller (refund);
- Replacement of the product with a similar product (replace);
- Mixed type, which combines refund and replace.
Refunds involve returning the funds from the seller to the buyer. Its meaning is as follows: a person buys a product, receives it, and then uses all possible arguments to convince the seller of poor product quality, defects, or counterfeit.
Chargeback is also related to money return procedures. This mechanism is slightly different from the refund method. Chargeback is a procedure that involves disputing a transaction on a credit/debit card. The return under the chargeback scheme is carried out by contacting the bank, which conducts its investigation and, if there is evidence of fraud, the bank raises a claim with the bank that received the money from the victim.
Financial compensation from scammers – action algorithm
Returning money from fraudsters is a lengthy process. The procedure is not quick and requires time.
Victims act as follows:
- Submit a statement or request to the appropriate authority to receive financial compensation;
- The application is reviewed for 30 days, and then a decision is made to initiate a criminal case;
- Court process (in case of filing a lawsuit).
If a person wins the case, they receive financial compensation from the fraudsters. It usually arrives in the account within a month.
Returning money from scammers – a memo for users
No one guarantees a 100% return of funds from fraudsters. But you need to do everything possible.
There are several tips for mandatory actions that can help resolve the issue with financial fraud:
- Immediately contact the bank to file a request for an erroneous money transfer. If online banking is available, you need to log into your account and block all cards;
- Evidence is an important point. The more facts about the fraud, the higher the chance of getting the lost money back. Evidence includes absolutely everything: correspondence with the company, emails, payment receipts, recordings of phone conversations;
- Contacting the beneficiary bank. Doing this independently will be difficult. Therefore, such statements are better made with the help of lawyers or through chargeback;
- Filing a report with the police and court.
Protection of the rights of victims of fraud is carried out in accordance with the current legislation of a particular country. If fraudsters are found, punishment is provided for them. It is determined individually, depending on the amount of damage caused.
For example, a fine may be imposed or imprisonment for a certain period. Returning money from scammers is a labor-intensive process. But never give up and make every effort to get the money back from the criminals.