Source: https://rivet.global/blog/what-to-do-if-you-wired-money-to-a-scammer-us
Published: 2026-09-26 · Updated: 2026-09-26 · By Alexia M.

# What to do if you wired money to a scammer

Steps for a US business that wired money to a fraudster: ask your bank for a recall, file with IC3 for the Financial Fraud Kill Chain, keep the evidence.

## Key takeaways

- Call your bank immediately and ask it to recall the wire and contact the receiving bank.
- File a complaint at ic3.gov; the FBI's Financial Fraud Kill Chain targets international wires of $50,000 or more reported within 72 hours.
- Preserve emails with full headers, invoices and payment records.
- Review how the fraud got in, and add callback and approval controls before the next payment.

A supplier calls to ask where their payment is, and you realise the bank details you used came from a fraudster. What you do in the next few hours decides whether any money comes back.

## The first hour

1. Call your bank or provider. Ask for a recall and for them to contact the receiving bank.
2. Give them the amount, date, beneficiary account and reference.
3. Ask what else they need in writing.

## The same day

1. File at ic3.gov with all details.
2. Preserve every email, with full headers.
3. Tell the real supplier, so they can watch for further attempts.

## The Financial Fraud Kill Chain

The FBI works with banks to freeze fraudulent international wires, generally of $50,000 or more, when reported within 72 hours. Domestic wires can sometimes be frozen too if the money is still in the receiving account.

## After

- Find how the fraud got in: a compromised mailbox, a lookalike domain, a fake invoice.
- Reset passwords and add multi-factor authentication.
- Add a callback rule for any change of payment details.
- Require a second approver for new payees.

## Paying into the United States: the local rail

| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Local rail | ACH for batch payments; RTP and FedNow for instant transfers |
| Run by | Nacha for ACH; The Clearing House for RTP; the Federal Reserve for FedNow |
| Settlement | Same-day ACH within the business day, standard ACH the next; RTP and FedNow in seconds, 24/7, where both banks take part |

Source: [Nacha: Same Day ACH](https://www.nacha.org/rules/same-day-ach-moving-payments-faster). Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.

## Where Rivet fits

Rivet's approvals on Growth let a second person check every new payee and large payout before release. If you suspect fraud on a Rivet payout, contact support immediately so we can work with the partner institution. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds. See [can you cancel a wire transfer](/blog/can-you-cancel-a-wire-transfer).

## Questions

### Can a wire transfer be reversed?

Not automatically. Your bank can request a recall, and the receiving bank may freeze funds if they are still there. Speed is everything.

### What is the Financial Fraud Kill Chain?

An FBI process that works with banks to freeze fraudulent international wires, generally $50,000 or more, reported within 72 hours.

### Should I contact the police?

File with IC3 first, then a local police report if your bank or insurer asks for one.

### Will insurance cover it?

Some crime or cyber policies cover social engineering fraud. Check your policy and notify the insurer quickly.