It happens to almost everyone eventually: you type 024 instead of 054, or swap two digits, and your money lands in a stranger’s wallet. The good news is that a wrong transfer is often recoverable. The bad news is that it depends on how fast you act and, sometimes, on the honesty of the person who received it.
This guide is based on MTN Ghana’s published process. Telecel Cash and AT Money customers should contact their provider’s customer care straight away; the principle is the same.
First: confirm the money really went to the wrong person
Check your transaction history or the confirmation SMS. Note the transaction ID, amount, date and time and the number it went to. You will need all four.
Option 1: Request a self-initiated reversal (fastest)
MTN’s help centre describes a reversal you can start yourself:
- Dial *170#.
- Choose My Wallet, then Reversal.
- Select the transaction you sent by mistake and confirm.
The receiver then gets a prompt asking them to approve the reversal. If they approve, the money comes back to your wallet automatically.
Option 2: If the receiver refuses or ignores it
MTN says that if the recipient declines, you should email customercare.gh@mtn.com with the transaction details. MTN will hold the money in the recipient’s wallet and start its normal reversal process. You can also report it through the fraud option in *170# (My Wallet → Report Fraud lists “Wrong transfer” as a category) or contact customer care.
What not to do
- Do not pay anyone who offers to “speed up” the reversal. Reversals do not cost money, and people who promise faster results are often scammers.
- Do not send the receiver more money to “cover charges” if they ask.
- Be careful with the receiver’s calls. Most people who receive money by mistake are honest. A few will try to turn your mistake into a second scam.
If someone says THEY sent money to YOU by mistake
This is one of the most common scams in Ghana. You get a text that looks like a deposit, then a call begging you to send it back. Often the text was fake.
- Check your real balance in the MoMo menu or app, not the text message.
- If money really arrived, do not send it back yourself. Tell the caller to request a reversal through their provider. The genuine system will ask you to approve it.
- If the deposit is not in your balance, you have just avoided a scam. Block the number.
How to avoid wrong transfers
- Save numbers you pay often as favourites or beneficiaries, so you are not typing them each time.
- Check the name that appears on the confirmation screen before entering your PIN. If it is not who you expect, cancel.
- Slow down for big amounts. Read the number back digit by digit.
- Use merchant numbers or QR codes when paying shops, instead of personal numbers.
The name on the confirmation screen is your last chance. Read it before you type your PIN.
This guide was checked in October 2026. Menus and services change, so if something looks different on your phone, check with your provider.
Common questions
How long does a reversal take?
If the receiver approves your reversal request, the money comes back quickly. If they refuse, MTN has said its verification process can take up to 15 days.
Can the receiver withdraw the money before it is reversed?
That is the risk, which is why speed matters. Once a reversal process starts, the provider can hold the funds in the receiving wallet.
Is there a charge for a reversal?
Requesting a reversal through your provider’s official channel should not require you to pay anyone. Be wary of anyone who asks for money to help.
What if I sent money to someone on a different network?
Contact your own provider first; it initiated the transfer and can work with the other network through the interoperability system.
