Refund Scam
A fraud in which a scammer pretends to issue a refund but tricks the victim into sending money themselves — often by manipulating a banking screen or exploiting remote access.
Also known as: overpayment scam, fake refund fraud, refund overpayment
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
In a refund scam, the fraudster contacts the target claiming to be from a company that 'owes them money' — a subscription renewal, a tech-support contract, or a government rebate. After gaining remote access to the victim's computer, the scammer navigates to the victim's bank account and uses CSS tricks or banking app overlays to make the balance appear to be much higher — as if the refund has already been paid in error.
The scammer then pretends to panic, saying too much was sent, and begs the victim to send back the 'excess' via bank transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. In reality, no money was ever deposited; the victim sends their own funds.
The scam exploits trust, embarrassment, and the visual manipulation of what appears to be the victim's own bank screen. It is commonly used alongside tech-support scams and frequently targets older adults who may be less familiar with how banking interfaces can be manipulated.
Examples
- A caller claiming to be from a software company says your account was accidentally charged £2,000 and needs to refund it — then remotely manipulates your screen to show a false balance.
- A 'government agent' says a benefits overpayment must be returned immediately via gift cards.