Sent an Interac e-Transfer to the wrong person? What to do in Canada
It takes one wrong digit in a phone number or one autofilled email address. The money leaves your account in seconds, and the first question is whether you can get it back. The honest answer is: sometimes, and mostly in the first few minutes. This guide covers what Interac and a major Canadian bank say about cancelling, why Autodeposit changes everything, who to call, and how to cut the odds of it happening again.
On this page
Step one: check if you can cancel right now
Speed matters more than anything else. Scotiabank's help page explains that you can cancel an Interac e-Transfer in its online banking or mobile app if the recipient has not yet deposited the funds, and that in most cases the money is then returned to your account instantly. It also notes that a transfer can take up to 30 minutes to deposit, so a cancellation is most likely to work inside that window. Wrong amount and wrong recipient are both listed as reasons to cancel, but only before the deposit.
Other banks have their own screens and wording, so look for your sent transfers list and an option to cancel or stop the transfer. If you see no cancel option, that usually means the transfer has already been deposited, or that your bank handles it differently. Either way, move to step two without delay.
Why Autodeposit makes cancelling impossible
Interac e-Transfer Autodeposit lets a person register an email address or phone number so that money sent to it goes straight into their account, with no security question. That is convenient for receivers and a trap for senders who mistype. Scotiabank says that if the recipient is enrolled in Autodeposit, the funds are deposited automatically and the transfer can't be cancelled. Interac's own guide says the same thing in general terms: as the sender, you can't cancel a transfer once the money is deposited by the recipient, and with Autodeposit the deposit can happen automatically after routine fraud checks.
The only built-in safeguard is that, when the recipient has Autodeposit, you see their legal name when you send. Interac says this gives you a chance to confirm you are sending to the right person. If the name on the screen is not the person you meant, stop and do not confirm.
What you can do, by situation
| Situation | What the sources say you can do |
|---|---|
| Recipient has not deposited | Cancel in your banking app. Funds usually return to your account right away (Scotiabank). |
| Recipient uses Autodeposit | Cancellation is not possible. Contact the recipient to arrange a refund and call your bank (Scotiabank, Interac). |
| Recipient already deposited | You can't cancel (Interac). Contact your bank and, if you can identify the person, the recipient. |
| You suspect a scam, not a typo | Contact your bank right away and read our e-Transfer scams guide. |
These are the options described by the sources we reviewed. They are not guarantees of recovery, and your bank decides what it can do in your case.
Step two: call your bank, not Interac
Many people ask Interac to reverse a payment. Interac's FAQ says that Interac does not hold funds and is unable to trace funds, and that to resolve issues affecting Interac e-Transfer you should contact your financial institution. It lists a general inquiries line, but also says Interac cannot assist with transactions or account issues.
So call the number on the back of your debit card, or use your bank's secure messaging. When you call, have the date and time, the amount, the recipient's email or phone number as you entered it, and the confirmation number from the transfer. Ask three plain questions: can the transfer still be stopped, can the bank contact the other bank, and what will it do if the recipient does not respond. Write down the name of the person you speak with and any reference number.
If the transfer looks like something you never authorized, see our guide on unauthorized transactions on your account, since different rules and timelines can apply.
Step three: contact the recipient if you can identify them
If the money went to a real person, such as a contact with a similar email address, the fastest route is often a polite message. Explain that it was a mistake, give the amount and time, and ask them to send it back by e-Transfer. Scotiabank's page says exactly this when a transfer can't be cancelled: contact the recipient to arrange a refund.
Keep a copy of every message. If you cannot identify the recipient, or the recipient will not return the money, tell your bank that you have tried. Do not threaten or harass anyone, and do not pay an 'unlocking fee' or any other charge to anyone who contacts you offering to recover the money. Recovery offers that arrive out of nowhere are a known scam pattern.
How to stop it happening again
Most wrong-person transfers are preventable with a few habits. Interac advises sending money only to people and organizations you know and trust, and entering the recipient's name and email or mobile number and then verifying that they are correct.
- Save contacts once, correctly. Pick the saved contact each time instead of typing the address again.
- Read the name on the confirmation screen. If your recipient has Autodeposit, you will see their legal name. If it is not who you expect, stop.
- Slow down on large amounts. Check your e-Transfer limits and consider whether a smaller first payment is reasonable for a new recipient. This is a common habit, not a rule.
- Protect the security question. Without Autodeposit, Interac says the answer should not be easy to guess and should not be based on public information, and should not be shared through the same channel as the transfer.
- Know your fees and limits. If you are sending to many people, a quick look at hidden bank fees can show whether e-Transfers cost you.
A short worked example
This timeline is illustrative, not a promise of how any bank will respond. Suppose Sam sends $450 to rent@example.com instead of rent@example.ca at 2:00 p.m. At 2:03 p.m. Sam notices the typo. If the owner of that address is not enrolled in Autodeposit and has not accepted the transfer, Sam can open the sent list, cancel, and the $450 returns to the account. If the owner is enrolled in Autodeposit, the $450 was deposited automatically, the cancel option is gone, and Sam's next steps are to call the bank and to try to reach the recipient. The only difference between the two outcomes is the recipient's setup, which Sam could not see in advance. That is why checking the recipient before confirming matters more than anything done afterward.
What the sources do not promise
It is worth being clear about what we could not find. Interac's guide does not describe a process for correcting a payment sent to the wrong person, and it does not cover expiry or unclaimed transfers, referring those questions to your financial institution. Scotiabank's page gives no separate wrong-recipient steps beyond cancelling before deposit and contacting the recipient. Other institutions may have different procedures. Treat the first hour as the best chance, and treat everything after as a conversation with your bank.
If this has happened to you more than once, or you are worried about the larger picture of how your money moves, our calculators and tools can help you map where it goes each month.
Questions people ask
Can I cancel an Interac e-Transfer sent to the wrong person?
Only if the recipient has not deposited the money. Scotiabank says you can cancel in its app before deposit, and Interac says you can't cancel once it is deposited. If the recipient uses Autodeposit, the transfer can't be cancelled.
Can Interac get my money back?
No. Interac's FAQ says it does not hold funds and is unable to trace funds, and to contact your financial institution to resolve issues.
How long do I have to cancel an e-Transfer?
Scotiabank says a transfer can take up to 30 minutes to deposit, so a cancellation is most likely to work in that window. If the recipient deposits first, the option is gone.
What if the recipient has Autodeposit?
The funds are deposited automatically and the transfer can't be cancelled. Scotiabank says to contact the recipient to arrange a refund, and you should call your bank.
Will my bank reverse the transfer for me?
The sources we reviewed do not promise this. Call your bank right away and ask what it can do. A scam or an unauthorized transfer may be handled differently from a typo.
How do I avoid sending money to the wrong person?
Interac advises sending only to people you know and trust, verifying the recipient's details when you add them, and using the legal name shown for Autodeposit recipients to confirm the person.
Looni is built to surface fees and odd charges from your statements so mistakes do not hide for weeks. Read-only, no advice.
Sources
Interac Corp., Interac e-Transfer FAQ (Interac does not hold funds and is unable to trace funds; contact your financial institution; transfers can take up to 30 minutes; Autodeposit) and Interac e-Transfer 101 (sender can't cancel once deposited; legal name shown for Autodeposit recipients; send only to people you know and trust; security question tips), and Scotiabank, Cancel Interac e-Transfer transactions (cancel before deposit, usually instant return; Autodeposit can't be cancelled; contact the recipient). The Sam example is illustrative.
Were you told to send the e-Transfer by a caller claiming to be your bank? That is the bank investigator scam.