A wrong bank transfer in Thailand should be reported to the sending bank immediately. The bank can coordinate with the receiving bank and ask the recipient to consent to a return, but it cannot simply debit the recipient’s account without consent or lawful authority. If the recipient knowingly and dishonestly keeps, spends or transfers the money, civil recovery and criminal proceedings may be available.
Quick answer: Save the transfer evidence, contact the sending bank at once, follow the bank’s document process, and make a formal police complaint promptly if the recipient cannot be contacted or refuses to cooperate. Do not threaten the recipient or try to recover the money through unlawful means.
What to Check Before Confirming a Transfer
Mobile banking is convenient, but a completed transfer can be difficult to reverse. Before confirming, check:
- the account number or PromptPay number;
- the recipient’s full name and bank;
- the amount, including decimal places; and
- any payment reference or invoice number.
Taking a few seconds to compare the confirmation screen with the original payment instruction is the simplest protection.
What to Do After a Wrong Bank Transfer
1. Preserve all evidence
Save the e-slip and take screenshots showing the date, time, amount, transaction reference, sending account and receiving account. Keep relevant invoices, messages and payment instructions that prove who was supposed to receive the money. Do not edit the original files.
2. Contact the sending bank immediately
Report the mistake through the bank’s official call centre or branch. Ask for a case or reference number and a list of required documents. Procedures differ between banks, but the bank will normally verify the transaction and coordinate with the receiving bank.
The Bank of Thailand’s guidance confirms that a bank does not have unilateral authority to pull the money back. The recipient’s consent—or another lawful basis—is generally required.
3. Make a formal police complaint if necessary
If the recipient cannot be contacted or refuses to cooperate, obtain the bank’s evidence of its attempted contact and make a formal complaint to an investigating officer. Clearly state that you wish to pursue the case, rather than merely recording the incident in a daily police log. Bring your identification, transfer evidence, bank correspondence and documents showing the intended recipient.
Police may then use lawful process to request account-holder information or coordinate restrictions on the account. A sender cannot personally order a freeze, and a police report does not guarantee that funds will still be available.
Can the Bank Reverse the Transfer Immediately?
Usually, no. A completed transfer places money in another customer’s account. The bank must protect that customer’s account and personal data and cannot remove funds merely because the sender alleges a mistake.
If the recipient consents, the banks can arrange the return through their formal process. If consent is refused, recovery may require police investigation, a court order or civil proceedings. Act quickly because the money may be withdrawn or transferred onward.
The Recipient’s Civil Duty to Return the Money
Under the Thai Civil and Commercial Code, a person who receives a benefit without a lawful basis at another person’s expense may be required to return it under the rules on undue enrichment, including Section 406. A mistaken electronic transfer will commonly create a civil claim for repayment, subject to the facts and any available defences.
A civil claim and a criminal complaint serve different purposes. The civil claim seeks repayment and related relief; the criminal process addresses alleged criminal conduct. Depending on the amount, evidence and location of the parties, a lawyer may recommend a demand letter, negotiation, mediation or court proceedings.
Is Refusing to Return a Wrong Transfer a Criminal Offence?
Not automatically. Receiving money without initially knowing about the mistake is not, by itself, a crime. Criminal liability depends on what the recipient knows and does afterwards.
Section 352 of the Thai Criminal Code concerns dishonest misappropriation of property in a person’s possession. It also specifically addresses property delivered by another person by mistake. The ordinary maximum penalty under Section 352 is imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of up to THB 60,000, or both; where the property came into possession because of another person’s mistaken delivery, the statutory penalty is reduced by half.
The prosecution must still prove the required elements, including dishonest appropriation. Evidence that a recipient was notified, understood that the money belonged to someone else, and then withdrew, spent, concealed or transferred it may be important. A refusal to return the money can be evidence, but it should not be described as an automatic conviction without considering all circumstances.
The current text of Sections 352 and 356 appears in the Thai Criminal Code published by the Royal Thai Police.
Important Three-Month Complaint Deadline
Misappropriation under Section 352 is generally a compoundable offence under Section 356. For a compoundable offence, Section 96 provides that the injured person must make a complaint within three months from the date the injured person knows of the offence and knows the offender.
The precise starting date may become disputed. A person seeking criminal action should therefore make a proper complaint without delay and retain proof of when the recipient’s identity and conduct became known. Do not assume that an informal incident record, a bank complaint or a private demand automatically satisfies the criminal complaint requirement.
Sender and Recipient: Rights and Risks
| Party | Proper action | Principal legal position |
|---|---|---|
| Sender | Preserve evidence, contact the sending bank, follow its process and complain to police promptly if necessary | May seek restitution through civil law and pursue criminal process where the evidence supports dishonest misappropriation |
| Recipient | Do not spend or move the disputed amount; contact the receiving bank and allow formal verification | May have a civil duty to return an undue benefit; dishonest appropriation may create criminal exposure |
| Bank | Verify the report, coordinate with the other bank and follow consent or lawful-process requirements | Generally cannot debit the recipient’s account solely on the sender’s request |
If Unexpected Money Appears in Your Account
Do not spend it and do not transfer it to an account supplied by a stranger. Contact your own bank using an official number and ask it to verify the source and arrange any return through the banking system.
This precaution matters because criminals sometimes claim that they transferred money by mistake and ask the recipient to forward it to a different account. That can draw an innocent account holder into a money-laundering or mule-account trail. The Bank of Thailand likewise advises recipients to work through their bank instead of independently sending money to an unknown account.
Evidence Checklist
- original e-slip and transaction history;
- date, time, amount and transaction reference;
- sending and receiving account details shown by the application;
- intended payment instructions, invoice or contract;
- bank case number and written correspondence;
- records of lawful contact with the recipient; and
- police complaint and investigating officer’s details, if filed.
Avoid publishing the recipient’s name or account details on social media. Public accusations can create privacy, defamation and evidentiary problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I call the receiving bank directly?
You may ask for general assistance, but the normal starting point is your own sending bank. The receiving bank will not ordinarily disclose its customer’s personal information to you without consent or lawful authority.
Can the recipient’s account be frozen?
Restrictions may be possible through lawful police, court or statutory procedures, depending on the facts. A report of an accidental transfer does not automatically freeze the account, and the availability of the money must be investigated.
Is a police daily record enough?
Not necessarily. If you intend to pursue a compoundable criminal offence, make clear that you wish to lodge a formal complaint seeking prosecution. The distinction can matter because of the three-month complaint period.
Must a high-value case go to court?
Not always. The matter may end with a bank-facilitated return, a demand letter, negotiation or mediation. Court proceedings may be necessary if repayment is disputed or criminal charges are prosecuted.
What if the transfer was caused by fraud rather than my own typing error?
Treat it as a suspected fraud incident and contact the bank and the relevant official reporting channel immediately. Fraud cases can involve different emergency suspension procedures and offences from a simple mistaken transfer.
Practical Conclusion
The best chance of recovering a wrong bank transfer comes from speed, complete evidence and the correct formal process. Contact the sending bank first, avoid direct or aggressive recovery tactics, and make a formal police complaint promptly where the facts support it. For a high-value transfer, a disputed recipient or an approaching complaint deadline, obtain advice from a Thai lawyer without delay.
This article provides general legal information as of August 2026 and is not legal advice for a particular transaction or dispute. The facts, evidence and current bank procedures should be reviewed individually.
Author: Siam Center Law Group – Criminal and Civil Litigation Team
