The idea of transfer merit It is said that merit transfer is a later development. We reap what we sow, it is not possible for the merit to be transferred. Is it true any recipient will not be able to receive any merit that is done and transferred by someone?
Of course merit can be transferred, such as when the love or goodness of one person makes another person feel love or goodness, such as when parents love their children &amp; thus transfer their merit to their children.
However, transferring merit to dead or unconnected people, yes, that would bring the results to the giver similar to a metta or gratitude meditation.
Whether there is actual merit being transferred to the dead would be not knowable.

In five ways, young householder, a child should minister to his
parents as the East:
(i) Having supported me I shall support them,
(ii) I shall do their
duties, (iii) I shall keep the family tradition, (iv) I shall make
myself worthy of my inheritance, (v) I shall offer alms
in honor of my departed relatives.
Sigalovada Sutta