03.11.2025

Elena Penzina

More Russians report suddenly receiving a large sum (for example, 20,000 rubles) by “mistake” in Tinkoff accounts, followed by phone calls from someone asking to return the money. Why should you never send it back or trust their story?
-This is almost always part of a criminal scheme—usually money laundering. Scammers randomly send amounts (10k, 20k, 30k) hoping some recipients will return them, since criminals struggle to withdraw the money in other ways.
-If you return the money, you may become part of a crime.
What should you do?

1. Verify the funds really arrived using your bank’s official site or app—not just by SMS alert.
2. Immediately inform your bank of the suspicious payment.
3. Don’t touch or spend the money to avoid legal trouble.
4. Keep a record of all calls and messages from the sender.

Some banks have an official “return mistaken transfer” button in their app—this is the only safe way to return the funds.
Never trust sob stories or get involved in strangers transfer schemes.

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