You may face trouble if you accidentally receive someone else’s money on your card
If money lands on your card by mistake, you could end up in serious trouble. Depending on how much money is involved and the surrounding facts, penalties can range from fines to criminal charges. This warning comes from a Canadian and U.S. legal perspective that mirrors what lawyers explain about mistaken transfers and fraud.
The immediate consequence often begins with a financial sanction or criminal penalty when someone’s property has been taken or controlled without authorization. If the person who sent the funds reports the incident to the police, or if a court finds that the transfer resulted from error or deceit and you refuse to return the money, you may face charges under applicable criminal provisions. The severity of any fine or jail time typically depends on the amount involved and on whether the sender or any third parties suffered harm in the process.
Secondly, a card or bank account may be blocked or compromised. When a financial institution detects money arriving that does not belong to the account holder, it is common for the card to be frozen or the account to be placed on hold until the situation is clarified.
There are several reasons why a card might receive funds that aren’t meant for the holder. The most frequent is sender error. Fraud is another major cause.
For instance, a fraudster might transfer money to a recipient from a stolen or counterfeit card and then request the funds back to another account or in cash. In some cases, a scammer uses the recipient’s card as a middle stop in moving illicit proceeds. This can lead to multiple transfers from different sources to the recipient’s card, with the money eventually withdrawn elsewhere.
When an unfamiliar transfer appears on a card, the first step is to determine who sent it. If it is confirmed that the funds arrived by mistake or as part of a fraudulent activity, the recipient is obligated to return the money to the sender or to the appropriate party involved.
In some cases, law enforcement officials emphasize that quick action helps resolve issues and minimizes risk for the cardholder. The guidance shared by a practising attorney highlights the importance of notifying the bank and cooperating with authorities to avoid escalating consequences.
Former public officials have warned about the prevalence of phone-based scams that attempt to manipulate people into handling money that does not belong to them.