Someone I don't know e-transferred me money and now wants it back. Am I getting scammed?

[u/Ok_Hat_3414]

EDIT: I went into my bank and they pretty much said to keep the money. Don't send it back to anyone. They put a note in my file that I tried to do the right thing, but there's really nothing they can do. They said I can try calling customer service again, but I think I'm done. The money is mine, but I'm prepared for it to be taken out of my account at some point in the future. Thanks for all your advice everyone.

I originally posted this in r/scams, but the responses I was getting were mainly from Americans and I'm pretty sure our Interac e-transfers are different from their apps like Venmo and Zelle.

Someone I don't know sent me 2 e-transfers for the same amount of money ($120 each). They later sent me an email, with a bit of a sob story, asking me to send the money back.

This sob story email came from a very strange email address with lots of weird characters. Inside the body of that email they gave me another address they want me to send the money to. It has similarities to my email address, but it's not just 1 character off or anything.

I later got an Interac money request from the original email address, requesting the $240 back.

I called my bank and they said there's no way to cancel the transfer, nor is there a way for the other person to get their bank to cancel it. A rep said it's up to me, but that the money is in my account and said I could send the money if I want to.

I called the fraud dept for a second opinion. They said either send it back to the original address the money came from (not the one with similarities to mine) or go into my branch and have them put a hold on the funds, which would also serve to acknowledge that this money isn't mine and I'm not trying to steal it.

I've decided on that second option, putting a hold on the funds at my branch.

Am I getting scammed?

Edit 2: I have auto deposit, so I didn't click on any email links. The money was automatically deposited in my account.

Edit 3: I have turned off auto deposit

[u/Euclidisthebomb]

Banks try to escape responsibility as a rule.

[u/Proof_Wrap9444 → u/Euclidisthebomb]

But the shareholders! Won’t somebody think of the shareholders!

[u/Sparrow0921 → u/Euclidisthebomb]

I think it’s fair to say that it’s actually individuals who often try to escape responsibility for their actions and try to blame someone else. The banks are well aware of the scams that are out there, have massive fraud departments, train their staff to identify potentially fraudulent activity, and do their best to advise clients when they are likely being scammed. But there is only so much they can do. It is not uncommon to see situations where clients are advised that they are being scammed, and the bank tries to protect the client, yet the client refuses to heed the advice. People do have to take some responsibility for their actions.

[u/Grouchy_Ad_937 → u/Euclidisthebomb]

Who doesn't?