Community › Forums › Legal Advice India › What should I do if someone claims they accidentally deposited money into my bank account?
- This topic has 61 replies, 42 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 2 months ago by
Indiangargi2466.
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VVimalbear169
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 8:53 amI have a secondary bank account where I receive rental income, small payments from agriculture, Amazon refunds, and similar random income.
About 15 days ago, I got a call from someone (let’s call him Mr. X) claiming he accidentally deposited 20,000 rupees into my account through a cash deposit machine. He says it was meant for his account but was mistakenly transferred to mine.
At first, I thought it was a scam and hung up. But out of curiosity, I checked my bank statement and saw the deposit. Now I’m unsure if it was actually Mr. X’s money or just another payment from one of my tenants, farmers, etc. Since I can’t track every small deposit, it’s hard to verify.
Here’s my dilemma:
1. If Mr. X is genuine, I don’t want to keep his money—it feels wrong.
2. However, since it was a cash deposit, the bank can’t reverse it without an account to transfer it back to.
3. If I return the money, what if someone else (let’s say Mr. Y) comes later claiming it’s his money?
4. Worse, what if Mr. X uses the money for illegal activities? How do I prove to the authorities that I was simply returning money that wasn’t mine?How can I handle this situation ethically without putting myself at legal risk? Any advice would be really appreciated.
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FFierceanirudh9723
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 8:57 amLet Mr X approach appropriate authorities for the reversal of the transaction. Under legal order, your bank will oblige. Until then I would not touch that money, nor would I transfer it to some random bank account.-
HHappysuhani6634
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 9:03 amThis OP. Do not use that money. Maybe guide the person to visit a branch and then do what the branch says. All documented. -
SSmartshark9111
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 10:14 amMaybe except that much that transferred, transfer the rest (your money) in a different account.-
IIndiangargi2466
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 11:04 amYeah. Often times they get your entire account frozen until the matter is resolved.-
VVimalbear169
OP
April 1, 2025 at 12:05 pmWTF FOR REAL?-
IIndiangargi2466
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 12:08 pmIf i remember correctly, someone deposited money into the victim’s account. And that person was a scammer/fraudster of some kind. So all his transactions were being investigated and thus, police froze all the accounts that ever came in contact with the scammer. -
EExpertricha7327
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 6:11 pmYes can happen. -
PPrimeknight4425
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 6:48 pmPossible if your account comes up in some scam complain. As per order only the amount in question should be blocked but banks sometime block the whole account. Read about it on Reddit recently. -
FFiercerushabh742
PARTICIPANT
April 3, 2025 at 6:13 pmNot to mention you need to bribe the police to get it unfrozen.
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SSohanninja147
PARTICIPANT
April 2, 2025 at 11:34 amThis was only a cash deposit. Unlikely that his account will be frozen . That’s for P2P UPI payments from scam accounts to mules, and from mules to third persons and so on. Regardless, it makes sense to not use the account for other legal considerations.
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MMegahardik3347
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 9:25 amAsk him to talk to the manager first. let them send an official mail to transfer the amount. until that dont touchso tomorrow since you have an offical confirmation you will be safe
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UUrbanguy8006
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 9:25 amTell the person to contact the bank where he deposited. Additionally you can ask the bank the source – they would have some record of where it was deposited, see if it matches what the person is saying. -
CCleverthinker5706
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 9:27 amWhere did Mr.X get your phone number from?-
MMegaguru6645
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 9:31 amValid point..Who gave your number since it’s a cash deposit.-
VVimalbear169
OP
April 1, 2025 at 9:34 amHe contacted his home branch. They found out the account money was deposited to in the cash deposit machine based on time. And based on the account number, they found the contact number.This is what Mr. X has said to me.
It does sound very fraud like, right? It’s such a wierd incident.
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MMegasagar68
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 9:42 amNo bank has authority to give customer details to unrelated party. At most the related bank manager can call you, not the customer. Definite fraud.-
PPrathamthinker202
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 10:43 amI wish that was the the case, this is India and privacy is a joke. My family works at PSU banks and they are all very nonchalant about these things.I can totally imagine a bank employee being “helpful” and sharing the contact information of OP.
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MMegasagar68
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 11:05 amAgreed, PSU bank hai toh Ghar bhi aa jayenge khana khane ke liye. -
IIndiangargi2466
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 11:05 amBS. I went to hdfc once. And those people won’t even give me their own customer support email or number.-
CCoolsunil6396
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 4:24 pmLmfao that’s just a violation 😭😭😭-
IIndiangargi2466
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 4:26 pmIkr. From my experience even sbi people have been more helpful than them.
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PParishark700
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 11:51 amBanks have contacted family and friends regarding my credit card debt. Even people whose numbers I don’t have.Privacy is a fucking joke in this country.
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MMegasagar68
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 12:03 pmAgreed, but this is not debt. It is an unrelated party transaction.
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BBravewolf1889
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 10:36 amEverything here sounds fraudWhen you deposit cash in machine, you have to enter your account number two times for confirmation and then it shows your name on the screen before even depositing the cash
And if you are using debit card for deposit it directly goes in your account
There’s no wayy someone can deposit cash is another random account even by mistake, somethings not right here
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VVimalbear169
OP
April 1, 2025 at 10:45 amTHIS IS WHAT I AM THINKING TOO.1. Double entry of account number
2. Name Flash
3. Receipt at end (which he doesn’t have!)
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IIndiangargi2466
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 11:08 amDon’t think so much.1. It’s a scam.
2. It’s his problem to get the money back.
Let me tell of this scam but it works in 2 folds. First the scammer will deposit money to your account. You will be contacted and then you’ll be asked to send that amount back. You do that. No problem. Then, those scammers will go to their bank and tell they sent you money by mistake and ask for reversal. The banks do their job and now scammer got his money AND your money.
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VVimalbear169
OP
April 1, 2025 at 12:07 pmSERIOUSLY? OMG I DID NOT THINK OF THIS! This sounds so legit. So instead of 20K, they get 40K!-
IIndiangargi2466
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 12:08 pmYup.
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MMegadude6269
PARTICIPANT
April 2, 2025 at 8:54 amWhat if OP was illiterate and just and (wrong)account number written on slip and just proceeded
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PParidhiowl770
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 12:36 pmAsk him to take the CCTV footage for proof. -
PPropanther6529
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 3:48 pmBankr doesn’t give information about other party or share such detailsIn such cases bank approaches the customer directly instead of sharing contact details
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VVimalbear169
OP
April 1, 2025 at 9:31 amI have contacted my branch regarding this and they said since it was deposited by cash, they can’t reverse it. I have to do it on my own. But doing it on my own brings forth those issues I have listed.So I am thinking of asking Mr X to send the following –
1. Affidavit signed by first class magistrate where he gives his KYC details + how he is the owner of the money he sent me + how the transaction was done by his own error.
2. Indemnity bond indemnifying me and my heirs etc from any and all legal and financial issues that can arise out of a reverse transaction I will do into his account.
3. 2 additional surety from his side promising to bear any financial and legal cost that might arise from my reverse transaction.
Will this do?
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SSwiftkomal6987
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 9:34 amTell him to follow the correct process and co-operate with your bank when they ask for confirmation….. -
MMegasagar68
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 9:41 amSuper fraud. Block his number, ask him to approach his bank. And yes, do not spend the 20k.
If he says it was accidentally deposited, ask for his account number, if they differ by a digit or so it can be genuine, but otherwise guaranteed fraud.
In any case he has to do the paperwork,not you.-
WWiserahul8269
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 9:52 amThis . What is that person’s account number . Does it differ from yours slightly?
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HHappybear2986
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 9:54 amAsk him to go through bank channels. -
BBraveninja1446
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 9:54 amScam ⚠️ -
UUrbanbro4506
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 10:00 amCan understand wrong account number but Wonder how he got your telephone number ,? -
UUpasanahero137
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 10:13 amSimilar thing happened with me for me also Mr X was a genuine person accidentally deposited 40k in my account and when he went to branch his manager raised a cyber complaint of wrong credit on my account which I was not aware of and meanwhile I verified all documents of Mr X and returned the amount with my other bank account then after some time due to the cyber complaint my axis Bank blocked that amount.
It’s been 6 months Axis bank didn’t unblock the amount and every time I go to the branch they ask a new document or letter from Mr X and his branch manager, which Mr X always send, he has been supportive but I am the victim now as I returned the amount.Advice: Ask Mr X to raise complaint in Cybersecurity for Wrong credit and inform your manager I got wrong credit of this much amount on mail or in person is better
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VVimalbear169
OP
April 1, 2025 at 10:43 amDaaayum! Thank you so much. This was very helpful. So even if I pay him directly, there is the risk of my money getting blocked so I will be literally a victim.-
UUpasanahero137
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 10:43 amExactly. -
IIndiangargi2466
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 11:10 amYeah. This is exactly what I just said in a reply to another of your comment.Move all your money out of that account except that 20k
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KKushalbro328
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 10:30 amTry out the cash deposit machine workflow and see if it is even possible to deposit without a debit card, using only an unauthenticated a/c number and no phone number / PIN / OTP.Seems a bit flawed – but it maybe possible to allow people to deposit into other people’s accounts.
However if X was trying to deposit to their own account – why did they not go thru the debit card workflow? Or is there another Y trying to deposit to X who mistakenly put in OP a/c number?
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SSmartpanda167
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 11:01 amOne thing that you should definitely do just to be safe is to transfer all of “YOUR” funds into a different account.
Just keep the amount in contention plus a minimum balance.
If your account gets a freeze( a very slim possibility), you’ll be safe.-
VVimalbear169
OP
April 1, 2025 at 12:09 pmOmg thank you good sire/madam. I will do this!
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SSilentrajnish997
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 11:09 amIt’s a scam. Don’t. Let them figure out with their bank. -
SSnehalowl721
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 11:15 amDon’t do anything. Don’t transafer money by yourself, it that money belongs to someone else and and he claims it then bank can put lien on your account for amount. Here Mr X can complain to his base branch, bank will verify that and they might take letter from you to give permission to debit your account. You don’t have to initiate any transaction from your side. -
PParidhiowl770
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 12:34 pmYour bank can tell you if a cash deposit was made and how much. So that way you can ascertain if the deposit actually happened. After that ask the depositor to contact a lawyer or CA who will guide him in getting the money back. -
CCoolknight1377
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 1:02 pmSince it is a cash deposit, you are legally entitled to keep it. Does the cash deposit machine issue an acknowledgement slip? You could ask for a copy of it as proof.There is no legal issue here. You can keep it or return it. A simple affidavit ought to be enough. If you want to return the money.
As for the phone number. The bank/branch has given it to him.
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VVinodking877
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 2:10 pmMr X will approach his bank > his bank will approach your bank > your bank will approach you > Mr. X will get his money if he’s legit -
PPropanther6529
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 3:46 pmGo through t legal channel let him approach the bank and check CCTV footage shows whether he had deposited or not can prove the claim -
PPrabhakarstar589
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 5:53 pmFirst remove all your money from your account, minus the amount he accidentally transferred , then ask him to raise a complaint with his home branch. Do not spend the amount he transferred ‘accidentally’ .-
PPriyankapanther82
PARTICIPANT
April 2, 2025 at 4:02 amare you really saying to remove all the money?he can just withdraw that money and deposit in the X’s account.
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VVasantshark473
PARTICIPANT
April 1, 2025 at 6:31 pmFirst Inform the branch giving details of the Transaction.Write a letter or email to the bank. If letter make sure to get the seal on the letter as acknowledgement. Can be used if your account get blocked/frozen later .
You can ask the bank to create a hold so that the money is not used up by you. The bank may not add a hold.
Never ever transfer to a different account than the one the money came from. They will ask to transfer amount to a different account or UPi and then raise a dispute and you will lose the money. If you are sending the money back to same account , you can at least tell that the money is send back if they try to freeze account later. But you should not transfer it back. Ask them to raise complaint in their home branch or digi sathi.
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BBrightthinker9189
PARTICIPANT
April 2, 2025 at 12:21 amYou can approach your bank and let them know. Never trf to any account on your own. Let the bank deal with it. Take a receipt for your complaint. -
GGauravwolf100
PARTICIPANT
April 2, 2025 at 1:32 amOr you can call Mr. X and ask him to collect cash.
For 20000 one should come from wherever his place is.
Or you may ask any of your relative/ friend who lives nearby Mr X to handover cash.
Sounds like Hawala..but I think it isn’t, and by this you may escape from any legal further. -
FFiercepushpa193
PARTICIPANT
April 2, 2025 at 7:12 amDon’t worry mr xs can complain to bank manager and money will be extracted back if not. You can go to sbi online and use utube for further info there you will get every transaction info etc. -
NNileshhawk538
PARTICIPANT
April 2, 2025 at 8:16 amNow the thing is, ask Mr X to go to his Bank branch and tell them what happened, the branch will raise a request to your Bank and let them know about the wrong transaction, then your bank will inform you about the wrong transaction so if you agree to make the reversal payment then it’ll be transferred from your Bank to their Bank and they’ll transfer the amount to Mr X. It is best to involve bank as youre not sure about the other person intention. -
WWiseknight568
PARTICIPANT
April 2, 2025 at 9:14 amKeep it. And say that I didn’t receive any. -
HHappyroopa7185
PARTICIPANT
April 2, 2025 at 9:23 amI think ask him to bring the receipt or proof that Mr X is the real person who deposited the money and exchange the money under legal supervision say Police or someone with power -
SSohanninja147
PARTICIPANT
April 2, 2025 at 11:36 amIt may be some kind of a fraud. They are probably using your account to launder funds and you are an unwilling/unwitting participant.Do not return the money to him unless compelled by law.
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