Reverse a FNB eWallet sent to the wrong number
Sent an eWallet to the wrong number? The useful window is short: as long as the recipient has not pulled the cash at an ATM, FNB can freeze the wallet and restore. Once cash is out, recovery becomes a civil dispute.
First action: call FNB right away
Dial +264 61 299 2222 the moment you spot the mistake. Provide: the transaction reference (in your confirmation SMS), the wrong recipient number, the amount. The earlier you call, the wider the useful window.
What FNB can — and can't — do
- Cash not yet drawn → FNB can reverse. The receiving wallet is frozen, the SMS PIN voided, and your source account is credited back (typically within 24-48h).
- Cash already drawn → FNB CANNOT reverse unilaterally. Recovery becomes a civil dispute between you and the unintended beneficiary.
- Invalid or inactive recipient number → the eWallet auto-expires after 14 days without withdrawal and the amount returns to the sending account.
Prevention: confirm the number before every send
Before confirming with your PIN, visually check the 10 digits shown on the USSD screen. Ideally, have the number sent to you over WhatsApp or SMS rather than retyping from a note — most errors come from manual entry of a single digit.
Do NOT send a second eWallet to 'retry' to the correct number while the first is still pending: if both validate, you lose double.