Bank recall or chargeback: which applies

Two routes for two payment types

A bank recall applies to money sent by bank transfer or DuitNow, where your bank asks the receiving bank to return or hold the funds. A chargeback applies to a card payment, where you dispute the charge with your card issuer instead.

Knowing which method carried your payment decides which route to start with, since the two processes run through completely different systems.

Side by side

	Bank recall	Chargeback.
Applies to	Bank transfer, DuitNow	Debit or credit card payment.
Who you contact	Your bank’s fraud line	Your card issuer’s dispute team.
What you need	Transfer time, amount, receiving account	Transaction details and proof the goods or service never arrived.
Rough timeline	Fastest within hours of the transfer	Commonly a few weeks to a few months.

When a bank recall is your route

If you sent money by bank transfer or DuitNow, a recall is the right first move, and speed matters more than anything else. The receiving account needs to still hold the funds for it to have a real chance.

Report to your bank as soon as you notice the transfer was part of a scam, ideally within hours.

When a chargeback is your route

If the payment went through a debit or credit card, a chargeback dispute is the process built for this. It does not depend on the receiving account still holding funds the same way a recall does.

Gather your evidence early, including screenshots of the offer and proof the goods or service never showed up, since a stronger file moves faster.

If you are not sure which applies

Some scams involve more than one payment method, so check each transaction separately rather than assuming one route covers everything. Your bank statement or app history will usually show how each payment was made.

If a route does not succeed, a formal bank complaint is often the next step to escalate what happened.

What to do next

Identify how each payment left your account, then start the matching process for each one without delay. Read the first actions after a scam if other steps are still outstanding.

Keep every reference number you receive along the way. If neither route resolves things fully, a lawyer can help you look at what other options remain for the amount involved.