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You sent money and something went wrong. The recipient says they didn't receive anything, or you fell for a scam and transferred money to someone who turned out to be a fraudster. In either case, the clock is ticking from the moment you notice the problem.
If you suspect you have been the victim of a transfer scam, the most important thing is to act within the first few minutes: contact the service you used to send the money and gather all evidence before records are lost or the scammer's account becomes inactive.
What to do if you have been scammed in a transfer
1. Immediately contact the service you used to send the money
Call or message the app, bank, or platform you used to make the transfer. Explain the situation and ask them to freeze or reverse the transaction if it is still possible. The window of opportunity is very small: once the money reaches the recipient and they withdraw it, a reversal is no longer viable. The sooner you act, the better your chances of recovering the money.
2. Gather all evidence before filing a report
Save screenshots of the conversation with the scammer, transfer receipts, emails, phone numbers, and any contact information you exchanged. This documentation is essential for any formal report and for the financial service to investigate the case. Do not delete anything.
3. Verify the status of the transfer with the Bank of Mexico (if you sent to Mexico)
If the money went to a bank account in Mexico, you can track the transfer using the Bank of Mexico's CEP tool at banxico.org.mx/cep. With the date, amount, and receiving bank details, you can obtain the payment status and an electronic receipt—information you will need for your report. To understand all the methods available for tracking a transfer, check out the article tracking a transfer: is it possible?.
4. Report the fraud to the appropriate authorities
Reporting channels vary depending on the country where the money was received or from where you sent it. Below are the most relevant ones:
If you received money in Mexico or the fraud involves Mexican bank accounts:
- CONDUSEF (financial fraud portal): condusef.gob.mx
- PROFECO: report the scammer's profile on their official social media channels
- Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público): call 088 for guidance and to file a report
- National Guard (Guardia Nacional): write to @CNAC_GN on X or email cert-mx@sspc.gob.mx
- Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection: ceac@sspc.gob.mx
- Mexico City Cyber Police: 55 5242 5086 or policia.cibernetica@ssc.cdmx.gob.mx
- Mexico City Prosecutor's Office (Cyber Intelligence Unit): 55 5242 6489 or ciberneticapdi@fgjcdmx.gob.mx
- Citizen Council (psychological or legal support): WhatsApp 55 5533 5533, available 24/7
If you sent money from a U.S. bank account and were a victim of fraud:
- Contact your bank immediately to initiate a chargeback dispute
- Report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- You can also file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov
5. Save your report reference number
Every formal report generates a reference or case number. Save it: you will need it to follow up on the case, to present it to your bank if you are seeking a refund, and as legal documentation if the process moves forward.
How to avoid a scam when sending money
Using a regulated and verified money transfer service, like Félix, significantly reduces the risk of fraud: all transactions are recorded, the sender's identity is verified, and support is available in Spanish 24/7.
1. Only use platforms licensed and registered with regulators
Verify that the service you are using is registered with FinCEN in the U.S. (the federal authority that regulates money transfers). Félix operates under federal regulation, complies with AML/KYC standards, and is SOC 2 Type I certified. If someone asks you to send money through an unknown app or to an individual, it is a red flag.
2. Be wary of urgent requests and offers that sound too good to be true
Most scams rely on pressure: "you have to send it now or you'll miss the opportunity." No legitimate service will ask you to act in seconds without giving you time to verify. If you feel rushed, pause and verify before tapping "send."
3. Confirm recipient details before transferring
Before sending, call the person receiving the money directly to confirm that the details are correct. An incorrect account number or CLABE can be difficult to fix once the transfer is processed. A thirty-second step can save you a lot of trouble.
4. Never share OTP codes or passwords with anyone
No legitimate service will ask for your password or the verification code sent to your phone. If someone claiming to be from support asks for them, you are dealing with a fraud attempt. Félix never requests this type of information outside of the official WhatsApp chat.
5. Verify that the WhatsApp channel is the official one
If you use Félix, the official number is +1 (669) 333-3549 with the blue verification checkmark on WhatsApp. If you receive messages from another number claiming to be Félix, do not respond and report it.
Frequently asked questions
Will the bank return my money if I was a victim of a scam?
Depende de las circunstancias. Si compartiste voluntariamente tus datos o credenciales con el estafador, la mayoría de los bancos no asumen responsabilidad por la pérdida. Si en cambio el fraude ocurrió sin tu participación (acceso no autorizado a tu cuenta), tienes más posibilidades de recuperar el dinero a través de una disputa formal. Actúa rápido y documenta todo.
¿Puedo cancelar una transferencia ya enviada?
Solo si el beneficiario no ha retirado o recibido el dinero todavía. El margen de tiempo es muy corto, especialmente en transferencias internacionales donde el depósito ocurre en minutos. Contacta al servicio de envío de inmediato para saber si hay alguna acción posible en tu caso específico.
¿Cuánto tiempo tengo para denunciar una estafa?
No hay un plazo único: depende de la autoridad y el tipo de caso. Dicho esto, denunciar rápido aumenta las posibilidades de que las autoridades rastreen la cuenta del estafador antes de que la vacíen o cierren. Lo mismo aplica para disputas con tu banco: muchas instituciones requieren que reportes el fraude dentro de 60 días desde el estado de cuenta donde apareció el cargo.
Sources and references
Reguladores financieros en México
- CONDUSEF, Portal de Fraudes Financieros: Denuncia de fraudes financieros y servicios bancarios
- PROFECO: Protección al consumidor frente a servicios fraudulentos
- Banco de México, CEP: Verificación y rastreo de transferencias bancarias en México
Reguladores financieros en EE.UU.
- FTC, reportfraud.ftc.gov: Reporte de fraudes y estafas en EE.UU.
- CFPB, consumerfinance.gov: Quejas sobre servicios financieros en EE.UU.
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