The 'accidental payment, send it back' scam

Someone sends you money by mistake, asks you to send it back quickly, but the payment wasn't real—and you end up out of pocket.

Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-11T18:14:57.874Z

How it works

You receive a payment (via check, digital transfer, or other method) that appears to land in your account. The sender then contacts you urgently, apologizing for an 'accidental overpayment' and asking you to return the extra amount right away. The pressure and apparent legitimacy of the initial payment make you feel obligated to help.

What it can look like

You get a message from someone saying they mistakenly sent you $500 instead of $50 for an item you're selling online. They ask you to wire back the $450 'overpayment' immediately. You see what looks like a deposit in your account, so you send the money back—but days later, the original payment bounces or is reversed.

How it unfolds

Scams like this follow a pattern. Knowing the arc helps you notice where you are — and step away before the ask.

You receive a message (email, text, or call) from someone claiming to have sent you money by mistake—often a payment, refund, or inheritance. They sound apologetic and urgent.

They ask you to confirm you received it, or to help them 'fix' the error by sending the money back to them right away. They may create false urgency by saying their account will be frozen or they'll face consequences.

You're asked to wire money, use a gift card, or transfer funds to an account they provide. They may ask you to visit a store, an ATM, or log into your own banking app while on the phone with them.

After you send the money, the original 'payment' bounces, is reversed, or never existed. By then, the scammer has disappeared with your cash, and you're left responsible for the transfer you made.

Red flags

Urgent pressure to send money back quickly, before you verify the payment
The original payment appears in your account but later bounces or is reversed
The sender asks you to return funds via wire transfer, gift card, or hard-to-trace method
You're asked to send money back before the initial payment has fully cleared
The story feels slightly off or the sender is vague about why the 'mistake' happened

What to do

Do not send any money back until the payment has fully cleared your bank (ask your bank how long this takes for that payment method).
If you're unsure whether a payment is real, contact your bank directly using a number on your bank statement—not a number the sender gives you.
Report the incident to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov so others can be warned.

If it already happened

Acting quickly can limit the damage. You are not alone, and it is not your fault.

Stop all contact immediately. Do not send any more money or information, and do not respond to further messages from this person.
Contact your bank or payment service right away. Tell them what happened, and ask them to freeze or reverse any transfers you made. Act quickly—the faster you report it, the better your chances of recovery.
Change your passwords for your banking and email accounts from a secure device, and set up fraud alerts or credit monitoring if you shared sensitive information.
Report the scam at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and keep copies of all messages, transaction records, and communications for your records.

Sources

Guidance on this page draws on public, authoritative consumer-protection resources (verified live 2026-07-10). Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-11T18:14:57.874Z.

Spotted this or lost money? Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov. This is general educational information, not legal or financial advice — and ScamVet never asks for your identity or account details.

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