Table of Contents
Quick answer
BNM says a scam victim should immediately call the bank scam hotline or NSRC 997 and lodge a police report. The BNM FAQ states that NSRC calls should be made within 24 hours and during its stated operating hours, but contact the bank even if you are outside that window.
Start by checking the bank scam hotline and NSRC 997, the transfer time, amount, recipient and reference, screenshots, links, messages and device details, then compare the result with your own cash flow and the current official wording.
The first call matters more than a perfect account of what happened
BNM says a scam victim should immediately call the bank scam hotline or NSRC 997 and lodge a police report. The BNM FAQ states that NSRC calls should be made within 24 hours and during its stated operating hours, but contact the bank even if you are outside that window.
Do not wait until every screenshot is sorted or every detail feels certain. The first useful record is the transfer time, amount, recipient and reference. Add the rest while the bank and police reports are being made.
Build the incident record as you act
Keep these items beside the phone:
- the bank scam hotline and NSRC 997
- the transfer time, amount, recipient and reference
- screenshots, links, messages and device details
- the police report and bank case reference
| Record | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| hotline and NSRC contact | gets the incident to the channels named in the official guidance |
| transaction time and reference | lets the bank identify the payment quickly |
| screenshots and messages | preserves the route by which the scam happened |
| police and bank references | gives you a trail for follow-up |
A second payment will not repair the first one
Do not send another payment to unlock a refund, delete evidence or wait for certainty before calling. A registered business name is not the same as a licence to provide an investment product.
Treat anyone asking for a release fee, recovery fee or fresh transfer as part of the incident until the bank confirms otherwise. Use contact details from the bank's official channel, not a number supplied by the person who contacted you.
Secure the next point of exposure
Call the bank, preserve evidence, report to the police, then secure exposed passwords and devices. Keep a timeline and follow up using the official case reference.
Write down:
- when you noticed the transfer and when you called
- the names or references given by the bank and police
- which passwords, accounts, links or devices may need securing
The aim in the first hour is a clean trail and fast notification. Recovery is not guaranteed, so do not let a promise of recovery delay the official reports.
Questions about the first hour after a scam transfer
What should I do first after sending money to a scammer?
What if more than 24 hours have passed?
What evidence should I preserve?
Should I pay a fee to unlock or recover the money?
How do I follow up after the first calls?
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Sources and verification notes
This article was prepared from the official pages below with an initial fact cutoff of 24 August 2026. Rates, limits, eligibility, operating hours and product terms can change; recheck the current source before acting. This is general financial education, not personalised advice.
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