Zelle® Safety 101
No sensitive account details are shared when you send and receive money with Zelle® – only an email address or U.S. mobile number tied to a bank account in the U.S. Authentication and monitoring features are in place to help make your payments secure, but, pay it safe: Only use Zelle® with people you trust1, and always make sure you are using the correct mobile number or email address!
Here’s how to pay it safe:
1. Only send money to those you trust: Zelle® should only be used with friends, family and others you trust1. Why? Because you can’t cancel a payment once it’s been sent, if the recipient is already enrolled with Zelle®. And if you send money to someone you don’t know, or you do not get what you expected, you may not get your money back.
2. Treat Zelle® Like Cash: While Zelle® and cash are certainly different, both provide the recipient with fast access to the money you send. With Zelle®, money moves directly into the enrolled recipient’s bank account within minutes1. And again, once you authorize a payment to be sent, you can’t cancel it if the recipient is already enrolled.
3. Beware of payment scams: If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. For example, a stranger selling online concert tickets at a steep discount and insisting you pay with Zelle® may be a scam. Zelle® does not offer purchase protection, so pay it safe. Only send money to people you personally know and trust.
4. Confirm your recipient's contact information: Make sure you have the correct U.S. mobile phone number, email address, or Zelle® tag for the person or small business you want to send money to. When in doubt, contact the recipient to double check. If you authorize a payment to be sent to the wrong person, you may not get your money back.
5. Understand your payment options: 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. Unlike a credit card, Zelle® does not offer purchase protection – for example, if you do not receive the item or the item is not as described or as you expected.