Stop a DuitNow transfer fast
You sent money by DuitNow to a scam and want to know if it can be stopped.
Updated 2026-09-29 · Independent resource. Legal review pending.
Can a DuitNow transfer still be stopped
A DuitNow transfer cannot be undone by you directly, since the payment settles within seconds once you confirm it. What can still happen is a recall request from your bank asking the receiving bank to hold or return the funds.
This only works if you act fast, because many receiving accounts are emptied not long after a scam payment lands. The transfer itself cannot be cancelled, but the funds sometimes still can be.
Do not wait to feel certain it was a scam before calling. A quick check by your bank costs you nothing.
Call your bank’s fraud line right now
Use your bank’s fraud or card hotline, not the general enquiry line, since fraud teams can act faster on a live case. Most banks list this number inside the app or on the back of your card.
Tell them straight away that you believe a DuitNow transfer was made to a scam, and give the amount, the time, and the receiving account number if you have it. Read how a bank recall works so you know what your bank can and cannot promise.
If the app has a report or dispute feature for the transaction, use it as well while you wait on the line.
What to say to get faster action
Keep your explanation short: what happened, how much was sent, and when. A fraud team moves faster with a clear summary than with a long account of the whole scam.
Ask directly whether a recall has been sent and whether the receiving account can be placed on hold. Note the name of the person you spoke to and any reference number given.
If the first call does not lead anywhere, ask to be transferred to a fraud specialist rather than repeating the same request to a general agent.
If the transfer has already gone through
If your bank confirms the receiving account has already been emptied, a recall on its own will not bring the funds back. The next steps are a formal police report and a call to the National Scam Response Centre on 997.
You can also check whether the receiving account has been reported before through Semak Mule, PDRM’s public mule account database. This does not undo the transfer, but it adds to the evidence.
For a fuller picture of what a DuitNow scam involves beyond this first call, read the DuitNow transfer overview.
What to do next
Report to your bank first, then the police, then 997 if the transfer is recent, keeping notes of every call. Do not contact the scammer again, even if a message promises a quick fix.
Once the immediate steps are done, the first actions after a scam cover what else to check in the hours that follow.
If you sent a DuitNow transfer to a scam in the last few hours, tell us the amount and roughly when it happened and we will help you think through the fastest next step.
Common questions
How fast do I need to call my bank after a DuitNow transfer to a scam?
As fast as possible, ideally within the first hour. Many scam accounts are emptied quickly, so the longer you wait, the less likely a recall can succeed. Call the fraud line directly rather than waiting to gather every detail first.
Can I reverse the transfer myself inside the banking app?
Usually not. A DuitNow transfer confirms immediately once you approve it, so there is no self-service reversal button. What you can do is report it inside the app if a fraud reporting feature exists, then call the fraud line directly.
What if I only know the amount and roughly when I paid?
That is enough to start. Call your bank with what you know now, and add the receiving account number or a screenshot afterward if you can find it. Waiting to gather every detail first only slows down the call that matters most.
Read next
What to do right after a scam
If you just realised you sent money to a scam, here is the order of first actions: stop paying, call your bank, call 997, and report it.
Read thisWhere to report a scam
A directory of Malaysia's official scam channels: the National Scam Response Centre, the police, Bank Negara, the Securities Commission, and MCMC.
Read thisAfter a cash deposit machine scam
If you deposited cash into an account as part of a scam, here is why it differs from a transfer, and what to do right away.
Read thisAfter an international transfer to a scam
If you sent money overseas as part of a scam, here is what your Malaysian bank can still try, and why reporting locally still matters.
Read thisIf you sent a DuitNow transfer to a scam in the last few hours, tell us the amount and roughly when it happened and we will help you think through the fastest next step.