Vietnam reports multiple mistaken bank transfers returned, including nearly $200,500 case
In a series of notable cases in Vietnam over the past weeks, individuals and businesses who received large sums of money erroneously credited to their bank accounts have returned the funds to their rightful owners, underscoring legal obligations under Vietnamese law to give back mistakenly transferred money.
On Saturday, a 70-year-old woman in Vinh Long Province returned nearly VND2 billion (US$77,000) that had been mistakenly transferred to her account in four separate transactions.
She completed bank procedures to return the funds after reporting the error to local police.
On January 23, authorities in Can Tho City helped facilitate the return of more than VND5.2 billion ($200,486) to two separate senders after a local resident twice received incorrect transfers into his account, local police said.
On January 20, a medical worker in Quang Tri Province returned VND440 million ($16,964) mistakenly received in her account after notifying police, who assisted in tracing and reconciling the transfer to its originator.
On January 14, a spa owner in Ho Chi Minh City voluntarily repaid VND117 million ($4,511) to a man from Hai Phong City, whose payment had been sent to her business account in error.
On January 13, a fish store owner in Quang Tri Province reported that he had received VND205 million ($7,903) in error and gave back the full sum to the sender after verifying the mistake with local police.
Earlier last month, police in Quang Tri Province arrested and sought to prosecute a man who repeatedly refused to return VND499,999,999 ($19,275) sent to his account by mistake.
Under Vietnam’s Civil Code and Penal Code, anyone who receives money transferred by mistake must send it back to the rightful owner or notify authorities.
Those who fail to do so may face fines or criminal charges, including possible prison sentences, depending on the amount involved.
Police and banking authorities have urged anyone who receives money transferred by mistake to report it promptly so it can be resolved lawfully and to avoid possible penalties.
Tuoi Tre News – February 9, 2026