Cyberescue
All articles

24 August 2026 · 5 min read

Money gone from your card without permission? How to get it back

If your card was charged without your approval, RBI rules can make your liability zero when you report fast. Here is how to block, dispute, and claim a refund.

Seeing a charge you never made is a shock. The good news is that Indian rules protect you well for unauthorised card transactions, and acting fast can mean you owe nothing at all. Work through the steps below in order and keep a record of everything.

Block the card first. Every minute it stays active is another chance for the scammer to spend more. You can block it in your bank app or by calling your bank's fraud number.

What to do right now

  1. Block the card immediately through your bank app or the fraud number on the back of your card.
  2. Report the unauthorised transaction to your bank in writing and ask for a complaint reference number.
  3. Ask the bank to raise a dispute, also called a chargeback, on the transaction with the card network.
  4. Call 1930 and file a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in so there is an official record.
  5. Save the transaction details, the SMS or email alert, and every reference number you are given.
Under RBI rules on unauthorised electronic transactions, if the fraud was not your fault and you report it within three working days of the bank's alert, your liability can be zero. The clock runs from the bank's message, not from when you noticed.

What happens after you report

The bank has to look into a valid complaint and is expected to credit a shadow reversal within ten working days in many cases while it investigates. Keep following up using your complaint reference. If the delay in reporting was not your fault, that should not count against you, so explain clearly when you found out.

If the bank refuses or drags on

A refusal is not the end of the road. You can escalate for free to the RBI Ombudsman, without a lawyer and without a fee. Keep your bank complaint reference and your cybercrime.gov.in complaint ID ready, because you will be asked for both.

Common questions

How fast do I need to report an unauthorised card transaction?

As fast as possible, and ideally within three working days of the bank's alert. Reporting within that window can make your liability zero under RBI rules. The days count from the bank's message.

What is a chargeback?

A chargeback is a dispute raised with the card network, like Visa, Mastercard, or RuPay, to reverse a transaction you did not authorise. Ask your bank to raise it when you report the fraud.

The bank says the transaction used an OTP, so it was my fault. Is that true?

Not always. If your OTP was stolen through phishing or a fake call and the fraud was not due to your negligence, you can still claim protection. Report it, explain what happened, and escalate to the RBI Ombudsman if the bank refuses.

Will blocking my card stop a refund?

No. Blocking the card only stops new transactions. It does not affect your right to dispute and recover the fraudulent charge, so block it straight away.

Want your bank's exact fraud number and a ready-to-send complaint email for your case? Answer three quick questions.

Build my recovery plan
Being scammed right now?Start my recovery plan