Can I be held liable if I sent a wire transfer to someone who turned out to be a scammer?
Your bank would need to review your fraud claim. Wire transfers are intended to be a final and irrevocable method of payment and the bank may not be able to reverse the wire transfer.
You can file a complaint with the OCC . If your submission involves fraud, you may wish to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If your complaint specifically involves fraud initiated over the internet, you may also wish to file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The IC3 is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C).
You may also contact the FTC by mail and phone. Their contact information is:
Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Response Center
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20580
(202) 326-2222
As there are numerous scams that are presented daily to consumers, you may wish to review the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s fraud and scams website for helpful information regarding the potential harm, such as identity theft, that can result from responding to a scam.
For more information, see our frequently asked questions about fraud.
Last Reviewed: April 2024
Please note: The terms "bank" and "banks" used in these answers generally refer to national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches or agencies of foreign banking organizations that are regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Find out if the OCC regulates your bank. Information provided on HelpWithMyBank.gov should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion of the OCC.