Information | The bank blocked your card or transaction: what does it mean?
A bank may temporarily freeze a transaction or restrict card spending if its internal monitoring systems detect potential risks. This can happen due to suspected fraud, anti-fraud alerts, unusual account activity, repeated incorrect PIN entries or outstanding debt obligations.
Such a restriction is not an accusation — it is a precautionary measure intended to protect both the customer and the bank.
If a transaction has been blocked, the customer should contact the bank, clarify the reason and confirm the legitimacy of the operation. The bank must explain the grounds for the restriction.
If, after contacting the bank, the decision appears unjustified, a complaint may be submitted to the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market (ARDFM).
It is also important to remember that participation in money mule schemes or transferring funds on behalf of unknown third parties may lead to criminal liability.
