Transfer to a fake shop: what your bank can still do
Under § 675p BGB, a transfer order is irrevocable once your bank has received it. After that, a recall via the recipient’s bank remains. It only succeeds if the recipient agrees. Call your bank immediately anyway.
Calculate your deadline
Deadline: No reversal deadline; recall via the recipient’s bank, answer within 15 banking days. Starts: Receipt of the order by your bank.
- 13 monthsrequest a recall
A transfer can only be stopped until the order reaches your bank. After that, a recall remains. The recipient’s bank answers within 15 banking days; money only comes back with the recipient’s consent.
The calculator counts calendar days and runs only in your browser. It does not replace information from your bank, whose terms apply.
Step by step
Call your bank immediately. Ask whether the order has already been executed.
If it has, ask for a recall from the recipient’s bank on grounds of fraud.
State the recipient IBAN, amount, date, time and reference.
Ask what the verification of payee showed for your payment.
File a police report and pass the reference number on to your bank.
What to say and write
Call first, then send a written confirmation. Replace the square brackets with your details. Never include passwords, PINs or TANs; no legitimate party will ask for them.
On [date] at [time] I transferred [amount] euros to IBAN [recipient IBAN], reference [reference]. The recipient is a fraudulent online shop. Has the order already been executed? If so, please request a recall from the recipient’s bank on grounds of fraud and inform the recipient’s bank of the suspicion.
Hello, I confirm my phone call of [date] and request a recall of the following transfer: Date and time: [date, time] Amount: [amount] euros Recipient as entered: [name] Recipient IBAN: [IBAN] Reference: [reference] The payment went to a fraudulent online shop ([shop address]). No goods were delivered. I have filed a police report (reference [reference], if available). Please inform the recipient’s bank of the suspected fraud and let me know the outcome of the recall. Please also tell me the result of the verification of payee for this payment. Kind regards [Name]
Attach the order confirmation, proof of payment and your message to the shop.
What you will be asked
- Date, time, amount, recipient IBAN and reference.
- Whether you authorised the payment yourself.
- Which result the verification of payee showed you before authorising.
- Whether you have filed a police report.
What to avoid
- Do not wait to see whether the shop delivers after all. Every hour counts for a recall.
- Do not send more money, not even for supposed customs, shipping or unlocking fees.
- Do not engage with services that promise to recover the money for an advance fee.
- Do not assume the bank is liable because it executed the payment. An authorised transfer counts as fulfilled.
Background
How this route works
The SEPA rulebook distinguishes the recall for technical errors and fraudulently originated orders from the “Request for Recall by the Originator”. If you authorised the payment yourself, it is usually the latter. It is possible up to 13 months after the debit, and the recipient’s bank must answer within 15 banking days. The money only comes back if the recipient agrees and it is still there. Fake shops often use accounts of intermediaries and clear them quickly.
What the law says
Since 9 October 2025, banks in the euro area must check before every transfer whether the recipient’s name and IBAN match and warn you of discrepancies. The check does not stop you from authorising. If your bank did not offer the check as required and the payment was therefore executed incorrectly, it must refund you. If you received a warning and authorised anyway, that does not apply.
Do this in parallel
- Tool: money transferredTimeline by hours, recipient bank, police report.
- Check an IBANAre there approved reports for this account?
- File a police reportOnline police station for your state.
Other payment methods
- PayPal Buyer Protection180 days from payment for the dispute, then 20 days for the buyer protection claim
- SEPA direct debit8 weeks from the debit, 13 months for an unauthorised direct debit
- Credit card (chargeback)No statutory deadline; the card networks set it, your bank tells you the one that applies
- Klarna buyer protection120 days for “item not received”
Frequently asked questions
Can my bank cancel the transfer?
No. Under § 675p (1) BGB you can no longer revoke the order once the bank has received it. The bank can only request a recall from the recipient’s bank.
What does verification of payee change?
Since 9 October 2025 your bank compares name and IBAN before you authorise. If they do not match, it warns you. With fake shops this only helps if the name given does not match the account.
This overview is independent editorial consumer information and not legal advice. It reflects German law and the terms of the providers named as of the check date. The current terms of your bank or payment provider are authoritative. For your individual case, a consumer advice centre or a lawyer can help.