How to send money with Zelle® safely
How to Safely Send Money with Zelle®
Zelle® is a fast, safe, and easy way to send and receive money with people you trust, like your babysitter, your fellow PTA mom, your son’s soccer coach, or your coworker. Whether you just enrolled with Zelle® or have been an active user for a while, there are a few tips you should always keep in mind to ensure you are being safe when sending money.
Only send money to those you trust.
Zelle® should only be used with friends, family, and others you trust. 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.
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 account within minutes. And again, once you authorize a payment to be sent, you can't cancel it if the recipient is already enrolled.
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.
Confirm your recipient's contact information.
Make sure you have the correct U.S. mobile phone number or email address for the person you want to send money to. When in doubt, contact your friend to double check. If you authorize a payment to be sent to the wrong person, you may not get your money back.
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.
If you’d like more information on safely using peer-to-peer payments, check out these articles from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
- Helpful Tips for Using Mobile Payments Services and Avoiding Risky Mistakes
- Tips on Using Peer-to-Peer Payment Systems and Apps
- How to Keep Your Personal Information Secure Online
U.S. checking or savings account required to use Zelle®. Transactions between enrolled users typically occur in minutes. Zelle® and the Zelle® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.