If you’ve recently fallen victim to a banking scam, you’re probably anxiously wondering how long do bank fraud investigations take. It’s a distressing time, and waiting for answers from your bank can feel like an eternity. As specialists in spotting scams and helping people manage the fallout, we know understanding the fraud investigation timeline can offer some much-needed peace of mind.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what typically happens after you report bank fraud, how long you might be waiting, what might influence the speed, and your options if things don’t go your way. Our goal is to make the process transparent, so you can feel a little more in control, even when your money feels out of reach.
How Long Do Banks Take To Investigate Fraud?
Every bank handles fraud investigations with slightly different procedures, but some general timeframes can help you set realistic expectations. Once you’ve reported suspected fraud, your case is usually assessed by the bank’s dedicated fraud team. From here, the clock starts ticking.
Normally, when you make a complaint to a bank, they have 8 weeks to investigate and offer a final response. However, for authorised push payment fraud, different timescales apply. APP fraud is where you are tricked, as part of a convincing scam, to send money to a fraudster. If you make an APP fraud complaint, you can expect:
- Reimbursement of your losses within 5 working days.
- A decision within 35 business days if your bank (or payment processor) needs more time to investigate.
The bank may need extra time to check whether your claim meets the eligibility criteria for APP scam refunds.
How Long Does Debit Card Fraud Investigation Take?
Debit card fraud is by far one of the most frequent types of bank fraud, and luckily UK banks are often pretty efficient at dealing with these cases. Under the Payment Services Regulations, your bank must give you a “final response” within 15 business days, the same as for other types of fraud, but in some cases, debit card fraud cases can sometimes be resolved faster because the bank’s systems are built to flag and stop suspicious card activity instantly.
If your case is simple, say, you’ve spotted wallet use in a foreign country you’ve never visited, your bank may well refund you almost immediately and then sort out the admin later. But in other cases, they may require the full 35 days mentioned above to investigate
Can I Do Anything To Speed Up The Process?
While you can’t directly force a bank to hurry, there are steps you can take that might help move things along, or at least avoid unnecessary delays.
- Act promptly: Report the fraud as soon as possible. The sooner your bank knows, the sooner the investigation clock starts.
- Be clear and organised: When speaking to your bank, give them all the relevant details straight away. Dates, times, transaction amounts and supporting evidence (emails, texts, screenshots) can all help make the fact-finding task quicker for them.
- Respond quickly to requests: If the bank asks for more information, reply swiftly and be as clear as possible.
- Maintain records: Keep notes of every call, letter, and email. Not only will this help you keep track, but if you need to escalate your complaint later, it shows you’ve been proactive.
Bear in mind, though, that even with your best efforts, some things are simply out of your hands. Banks have to abide by certain legal procedures, and sometimes delays are due to fraud teams communicating across multiple financial institutions or, in some cases, law enforcement agencies.
If you ever feel you’re getting nowhere, don’t be afraid to chase, polite persistence (ideally, in writing) can sometimes ensure your case doesn’t fall to the bottom of the pile.
How Long Does It Take To Get Fraud Money Back
Once the investigation has finished, assuming the fraud complaint is upheld in your favour, your refund is usually processed speedily, often within just a few days. In most straightforward circumstances, you could see the money back within 24 to 48 hours after confirmation.
As part of your bank’s response letter, you should be informed of when and how the refund will be paid.
Who Can I Turn To If I Don’t Agree With My Bank’s Findings
If you think your bank got the decision wrong, or didn’t handle the case fairly, you’re absolutely entitled to escalate the matter. In the first instance, make a formal complaint to your bank, spelling out exactly why you think their findings aren’t accurate or fair. They’ll have up to eight weeks to reply to your complaint.
If you’re still dissatisfied after that, you can turn to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), an independent, free service dedicated to resolving disputes between consumers and financial firms. The FOS has the power to look at all the evidence and, if necessary, order your bank to change its decision and refund you.
To make a complaint to FOS, you’ll need to submit the details and provide copies of your evidence and all correspondence with the bank. While the FOS is diligent, be aware that investigations here can take several weeks, or even a few months, depending on the complexity of the case load at the time. But, cases involving financial hardship (where not having the money is causing significant distress) can sometimes be fast-tracked.
What Other Options Do I Have?
If you’ve been turned down for a refund and the FOS won’t overturn your bank’s decision, you may still have options.
Besides the Ombudsman, you always have the right to seek independent advice, Citizens Advice is a strong first port of call for many, and even pursue legal action if you believe you have grounds.
Also, we offer a fraud recovery service on a No Win No Fee basis. As part of a free consultation, we can review your case, check why you’ve been refused a refund, and explain your options. In many cases, we’ve overturned fraud refund refusals on behalf of our clients. Please feel free to contact us to check if we can help you too.
