Send and receive money confidently with Zelle®
If you’re like most people today, the way you send and receive money is almost entirely digital. And while fast and convenient, it should be safe. We want you to feel confident and secure using Zelle® for all sorts of things in your life, so here are some important facts to know.
When you authorize a payment,
it's like sending cash
Zelle® does not offer purchase protection. Once you authorize a payment to be sent with Zelle®, you can’t cancel it if the recipient is already enrolled because money goes directly into the recipient’s bank account within minutes.1 If you don’t know a person or aren’t sure you’ll get what you paid for, using your credit card may be a better payment option. Many credit card companies offer built-in buyer protections for cardholders. Check the terms and conditions of your credit card to see what’s offered.
Think you’ve been scammed or a victim of fraud?
First, we’re so sorry to hear you may have been a victim of a scam or fraud. Even the most tech-savvy of us can fall for scammers’ tricks because they continue to find new schemes to exploit millions of innocent people. In fact, according to the FTC consumers reported losing more than $10 billion to fraud in 2023.
If you suspect you’ve been a victim, here’s what you need to know and do next.
Using Zelle® Through Your Banking App
- Immediately report suspicious activity to your bank or credit union. Call the official number on the back of your bank-issued debit card or the customer support number on your online or mobile banking app
- Report the user directly to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov
- Explore additional safety resources from your financial institution, Cybercrime Support Network, FTC, CFPB or other community resources for fraud and scam victims
Using the Zelle® App (Bank doesn’t offer Zelle®)
- Immediately report suspicious activity to Zelle® Support.
- If you authorized the payment, report a scam here.
- If you did not authorize the transaction, report fraud by calling 1-844-428-8542
- Report the user directly to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov
- Explore additional safety resources from Zelle®, Cybercrime Support Network, FTC, CFPB or other community resources for fraud and scam victims
There may be differences in the consumer protections available by your bank or credit union depending on whether you were the victim of a scam or fraud. When you contact your financial institution to report the incident, they can help you understand the recourse available to you. Learn more about the differences in how fraud and scams are defined.
Looking to learn more?
When it comes to payment scams, it's best to know the red flags to look out for. Some of the most common scams take advantage of our most basic psychological needs and instincts. We partnered with Vox to create entertaining learning materials to keep you up to date on how these crimes work, take a look and test your knowledge!
S.A.F.E. Squad
Meet S.A.F.E. (Scam And Fraud Elimination) Squad, a top-notch team of private investigators dedicated to taking down criminals behind imposter scams. Ready to join the squad? Go behind the scenes of S.A.F.E. Squad HQ to dive deep into the dark underworld of digital fraud and test your knowledge of how to avoid financial crimes.
The Science Behind Scams
We partnered with Vox to create the Explainer Series, "The Science Behind Scams," educating folks about modern day scams and the psychology behind them. Think you can spot a scam? Check out our series and take the quiz!
