High riskBank & Payment

Bank Reimbursement Scam

In this scam, fraudsters pose as your bank's fraud or reimbursement team, claiming they can refund money you lost to a previous scam, then ask for verification details, a fee, or remote access to steal more.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Bank impersonation (re-victimisation)
Main red flag
A 'bank' contact offering to reimburse a previous scam if you verify details or pay a fee.
What to do first
Hang up and contact your bank using the number on your card to verify.

Understanding this scam

In this scam, fraudsters pose as your bank's fraud or reimbursement team, claiming they can refund money you lost to a previous scam, then ask for verification details, a fee, or remote access to steal more.

Bank and payment scams weaponise your trust in your bank and your fear of losing money. They fake fraud alerts, blocked payments, or refunds, then steer you into moving money to a "safe account", sharing a one-time code, or approving a transfer, actions a genuine bank will never ask of you.

If you take one thing from this guide, make it this: A 'bank' contact offering to reimburse a previous scam if you verify details or pay a fee. Hang up and contact your bank using the number on your card to verify.

If your message looks slightly different, check the Fund Recovery Scam or the Bank Impersonation Phone Scam, both are close cousins of this pattern. Every related guide lives in the Bank & Payment Scams guides, and the scam checker can scan the text you received.

A typical example

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'This is your bank's reimbursement team. To refund the money you lost, confirm your details and pay a small release fee.'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

The tell here: A 'bank' contact offering to reimburse a previous scam if you verify details or pay a fee.

What the data shows

#1
copycat bank fraud alerts were the most-reported text scam in the US in 2022
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
£459.7M
lost to authorised push payment (APP) fraud in the UK in 2023
Source: UK Finance

Warning signs

  • An offer to reimburse a previous scam loss
  • Requests for verification details, a fee, or remote access
  • Contact that targets known scam victims
  • Pressure and reassurance to act now
  • A caller or link not verified as your bank

Your safest response

  • Hang up and call your bank using the number on your card
  • Never pay a fee or share details to receive a reimbursement
  • Be aware scammers target previous victims
  • Report the contact to your bank and fraud authority

If you have already engaged

  • If you shared details or paid, contact your bank immediately
  • Change your online banking password from a trusted device
  • Remove any remote-access software and run a scan
  • Report it and keep evidence

What to avoid

  • Do not pay a fee to receive a reimbursement
  • Do not share verification details or grant remote access
  • Do not trust unsolicited reimbursement offers

You might also see

High risk Bank & Payment

Fund Recovery Scam

In this scam, fraudsters target people who have already lost money, posing as recovery agents, lawyers, or authorities who can get the funds back for an upfront fee or your account details, then take more money.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Bank & Payment

Bank Impersonation Phone Scam

In this scam a caller pretends to be your bank's fraud team, claims your account is under attack, and pressures you to move money to a 'safe account', read out one-time codes, or grant remote access so they can steal your funds.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Bank & Payment

Refund Recovery Scam

In this scam, a caller claims you are owed a refund, gains remote access to your device, moves money between your own accounts to fake an overpayment, then pressures you to 'return' the difference to them.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Questions people ask

Does my bank charge a fee to reimburse fraud?
No. Genuine reimbursements go through official processes without fees or requests for remote access. Verify any offer by calling your bank directly.
Why am I being targeted after a scam?
Scammers share lists of previous victims and pose as your bank's reimbursement team, knowing you want your money back.
I shared details or paid. What now?
Contact your bank immediately, change your banking password from a trusted device, remove any remote-access software, and report it.
How do I get a genuine reimbursement?
Through your bank's official fraud process, which you start by contacting the bank directly, not via an unsolicited offer.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.