The Setup

Zelle was designed to make sending money fast and easy — and it does. The problem? Scammers love “fast and easy” too.
In this scam, criminals pretend to be your bank, a company you trust, or even a friend. Their goal is simple: trick you into sending money straight into their pockets.

How the Scam Works

• Fake bank alerts: You get a text or call saying “Suspicious activity detected.” They sound convincing, even spoofing your bank’s number.
• “Verification” transfers: The scammer tells you to send money to yourself to verify your account — but that “yourself” is really them.
• Online purchase cons: You pay via Zelle for a product or service that never shows up. The seller vanishes, and Zelle can’t reverse it.
• Friend or family impersonation: A desperate text from someone you know — but it’s a hacked account asking you to “Zelle me quick.”

Why It Works

Zelle transfers are instant. Once you send it, it’s gone. Unlike credit cards or PayPal, there’s no buyer protection or “oops” button. Banks call it a “voluntary transaction,”
so even though you were tricked, it doesn’t count as fraud in the traditional sense.

How to Protect Yourself

• Never move money “to verify” anything. Banks don’t ask you to send funds to yourself.
• Ignore random “bank” texts or calls. Hang up, then call your bank directly using the number on the back of your card.
• Only send money to people you know personally. Zelle is for friends, family, and trusted contacts — not online deals or strangers.
• Lock down your accounts. Use multi-factor authentication and strong, unique passwords for your banking apps.
• Spread the word. Share this info with your family, especially older relatives who might fall for these scams.

Bottom Line

The Zelle scam isn’t about hackers breaking into your bank — it’s about tricking you into opening the door. Once the money’s sent, it’s almost impossible to recover.
A little skepticism goes a long way. Slow down, verify, and never let a sense of urgency override common sense.

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