How To Avoid the 12 Latest Zelle Scams of 2025

Can You Get Scammed When Using Zelle?

Yes, you can get scammed while using Zelle. Zelle reports that 99.95% of payments made on the app occur without any reports of fraud or scams. However, the company’s massive scale — with more than $1 trillion in payments made in 2024 — means that 0.05% of fraudulent transactions still adds up to nearly $500 million in losses for last year alone.

Just the popularity of Zelle’s payment service would be enough to make it a prime target for scammers. However, there are a few other reasons why fraudsters target Zelle specifically:

• Zelle transactions and transfers are nearly instant. Once you send a digital payment to a scammer, it can’t be canceled or reversed.
• Zelle connects directly to your bank account. Money transfers require little more than tapping on the Zelle integration tab on a participating bank’s mobile app.
• Banks and Zelle aren’t liable for unauthorized transfers. In March 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) dropped its suit against Zelle and its parent company, Early Warning Services (EWS), over ”leaving the door open to scammers.” As of the time of writing, there are no regulations in place to compel banks to refund people who were scammed into sending money via Zelle.

If you use Zelle at all, you need to be aware of common Zelle scams that are designed to steal your money.

⚠️ Were you the victim of a Zelle scam? Contact your financial institution immediately to report the fraud. Then, follow these steps to try to recover your lost money and protect your accounts.

The 12 Most Common Zelle Scams of 2025

1. Impersonation scams
2. “Accidental” money transfers
3. “Pay yourself” scams (fake fraud alerts)
4. Account takeover scams
5. Job and recruitment scams
6. Zelle payment phishing emails
7. Hacked accounts of friends or family members
8. Account upgrade scam emails
9. Facebook Marketplace scams
10. Fake customer service accounts
11. Romance scams
12. Lotteries, sweepstakes, and giveaways

Zelle scams occur when fraudsters trick you into sending them money via Zelle, giving up access to your Zelle account, or putting money into fake investments.

Here are the most common Zelle scams taking place in 2025, how you can spot them, and what you can do to stay safe.

1. Impersonation scams

Fraudsters impersonate banks, government agencies, well-known companies, and other people to trick you into sending them money. Imposter scams use many different methods, but most include some sort of threat or sense of urgency to get you to act quickly.

In one recent example, a Reddit user explained how their mother received a phone call from someone claiming to be from Bank of America saying that there had been suspicious activity on her bank account. She was then pressured into sending $2,000 in Zelle transfers to a different account to help “investigate” the fraud.

How to spot the scam:

• Unsolicited contact from someone claiming to be an authority figure — such as your bank, the government, or local police
• You’re threatened with fines, fees, or even jail time if you don’t follow their demands
• You’re told not to tell anyone else about the situation

What to do to stay safe: Don’t act on unsolicited calls or communications. Instead, always contact companies and agencies directly by using their official contact information.

2. “Accidental” money transfers

Scammers send money to random Zelle users, reach out to say it was an accident, and then ask the recipients to return the funds. However, the initial transfer was made by using a hacked online banking account or stolen credit card information. 

After the fraud is discovered, the amount scammed will be withdrawn from the victim’s account. So, if you “paid them back,” you’ll lose both the money they sent you and the money that you “refunded.”

How to spot the scam:

• You receive money from an “accidental” Zelle transfer
• Someone asks you to “refund” money to a different account
• You’re offered a percentage of the money as a “reward” for sending the rest back

What to do to stay safe: Don’t send back “accidental” Zelle transfers. Instead, contact your financial institution and ask to speak to its fraud department to explain the situation.

3. “Pay yourself” scams (fake fraud alerts)

In this scam, you receive a text message or email that looks like a legitimate fraud alert from your bank asking you to confirm a purchase or transfer. If you try to dispute the transaction — either by calling the provided number or clicking on a link — you’ll be connected to a scammer who asks you to provide a one-time use code sent to your phone.

Giving up this code allows the scammers to connect their bank account to your phone number. They’ll then tell you to “transfer money to yourself” to keep it safe. But when you do, it really goes to the scammers.

How to spot the scam:

• You receive a transaction alert with a link to click on or a phone number to call
• You’re told to “transfer money to yourself” to keep it safe
• You’re asked to provide an authentication code — but legitimate support agents will never ask for this

What to do to stay safe: Contact your financial institution to verify any fraudulent transactions. Use official contact methods only — such as your banking app or the phone number on the back of your bank card.

4. Account takeover scams

Zelle no longer allows users to send or receive money by using the stand-alone Zelle app. However, if hackers can gain unauthorized access to your bank account, they can transfer out money by using Zelle.

Your banking account app can get hacked if you click on malicious links, enter your login credentials on fake websites, become the victim of a SIM-swapping scam, give up 2FA codes through phishing scams, or even if you do none of those things but your passwords are leaked in a data breach.

How to spot the scam:

• You can’t access your bank account, as hackers have taken it over and changed your password
• You tried to log in to Zelle after clicking on a link, but your password doesn’t work
• You’re notified of unauthorized Zelle transfers from your bank

What to do to stay safe: Keep your banking accounts safe with strong passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA). You should also consider signing up for account monitoring with data breach notifications to alert you if your passwords have been leaked.

5. Job and recruitment scams

Posing as recruiters, con artists post lucrative remote and work-from-home jobs on legitimate job boards or reach out via social media, text messages, or LinkedIn. The interview process for these fake jobs almost always takes place via a messaging app — or not at all.

Once you’re “hired,” you’re asked to provide sensitive financial information, send money via Zelle for supplies, or even cash checks for the company and send money back (making you an unsuspecting money mule).

How to spot the scam:

• The entire interview process takes place through text messages — legitimate jobs usually require at least one phone call or in-person interview 
• You’re asked to pay upfront for your own equipment or training materials
• You’re asked to provide sensitive personal and financial information to get the job

What to do to stay safe: Look for the common warning signs of a job scam. Never give your Zelle account information — including your phone number or email address — to unknown individuals.

6. Zelle payment phishing emails and texts

In this payment scam, fraudsters send fake emails and text messages to request money for a service or purchase. For example, you might receive an email claiming to be from Netflix saying that your account will be canceled if you don’t pay immediately via Zelle. These messages are often titled “Zelle payment request” to seem more official.

How to spot the scam:

• Unexpected invoices or bills from service providers — even ones you don’t actually use
• Requests for immediate payment via Zelle (or to call a phone number to dispute the charge)
• Suspicious links to “sign in” to your account

What to do to stay safe: Confirm invoices by logging in to your account directly. For example, if your Netflix account is overdue, you’ll see it listed on your account page when you sign in.

7. Hacked accounts of friends or family members

If hackers are able to access the accounts of your friends and family members, or impersonate them with spoofed phone numbers, they can pressure you into sending money for emergencies, gifts, or loans (with promises to “pay you back”). You’ll be more likely to send money to a person claiming to be someone you know or is familiar with specific details about you.

How to spot the scam:

• Unexpected or uncharacteristic requests for money from someone claiming to be a friend or family member
• You’re told that the person “is busy” and unable to answer a phone call right now
• Strange language, or the inability to answer questions that the actual person would know

What to do to stay safe: Double-check all money requests directly with the person before sending. Make sure you can get in touch over the phone or in person before sending money. Families should also consider a “family password” to help older family members confirm whom they’re speaking with.

8. Account upgrade scam emails

Fraudsters send fake emails claiming that you’re owed money; but before you can receive it, you need to pay the recipient a fee to “upgrade your account.” However, any money you send goes straight to a scammer and cannot be reversed. As Zelle’s safety team explains, “Remember, no one can upgrade your account because there are NO upgrades!”

How to spot the scam:

• You’re told that you need to pay a fee to upgrade your account and receive a pending payment
• The message says that the fee needs to be paid to the person sending you money — and that you’ll be reimbursed
• The email doesn’t come from a @Zelle.com or @Zellepay.com email address

What to do to stay safe: Ignore any email that claims to be from Zelle saying that you need to upgrade your account. You should also learn how to spot the warning signs of a phishing email.

9. Facebook Marketplace scams

Scammers use Zelle’s instant money transfers to defraud both buyers and sellers on Facebook Marketplace.

How to spot the scam:

• For buyers: Requesting deposits for popular or below-market-rate items. Scammers post in-demand items, such as puppies and other pets, rental apartments, or concert tickets, and then request a deposit via Zelle to “hold” the item. Any money you send goes straight to the scammer, and you get nothing.
• For sellers: Sending fake payment confirmation emails. Sellers send doctored emails that claim a payment went through, even if it doesn’t show up in your Zelle account. They then accuse you of being a scammer and demand that you refund them with your own money.

What to do to stay safe: Follow best practices when buying items from online marketplaces — meet in person (when it’s safe to do so), pay in cash if possible, and don’t “refund” aggressive buyers.

10. Fake customer service accounts

Zelle doesn’t offer customer support for people who have enrolled in Zelle through their banks. Even for those who use the Zelle stand-alone app, support is limited. Scammers use this confusion to pose as fake Zelle customer support agents and then trick you into sending money to different accounts or giving up access to your account.

How to spot the scam:

• Someone contacts you via social media, email, text, or a phone call and claims to be from Zelle support
• You’re asked to provide sensitive information to help “fix” the problem
• You’re told that you need to transfer funds to a “new account” to protect your money

What to do to stay safe: Always contact your bank directly for all payment-related issues by using the number on the back of your bank card. If you need support with the Zelle app, you can contact Zelle support via its official online forms or by calling 1-844-428-8542.

11. Romance scams

Romance scams are a type of imposter scam in which fraudsters use fake profiles on social media and dating platforms to bait singles into phony relationships. 

Eventually, the scammers manufacture scenarios in which they need you to send them money via platforms like Zelle — such as for emergency medical procedures, expenses for a family member, to cover rent, or pay for gifts or flights to come see you.

How to spot the scam:

• You’re “love bombed” by an online acquaintance — this is when someone quickly says they’re developing feelings for you or that they love you
• The profile seems too good to be true — for example, if it features professional-level photos
• You’re unable to meet in person or have a video call (although AI is now enabling scammers to use deep fake videos in romance scams)

What to do to stay safe: Don’t send money to people you haven’t met in person. No matter what they say, it is always a risk to send large sums to someone you’ve never met.

12. Lotteries, sweepstakes, and giveaways

Scammers send emails, texts, or social media messages claiming that you’ve won a prize. But in order to claim it, you need to pay taxes or a small fee — via Zelle. Any money you send will be gone, and the scammers will continue asking you to send more to release your prize.

A similar version of this scam involves “no risk” investments — such as special cryptocurrency exchanges or money-flipping opportunities. Any time someone promises you a huge return with no potential downside, it’s a scam.

How to spot the scam:

• You’re told that you won a lottery or giveaway for which you never signed up
• Someone claims to have special information about a “no risk” investment
• When you try to claim the prize or release your “gains,” you’re told you need to pay first

What to do to stay safe: Ignore any unexpected prizes or “winnings” and properly vet all investment opportunities. These are some of the oldest scams in the book. If something seems too good to be true, it’s most likely a scam.

How To Protect Yourself From Zelle Scams

The best way to protect yourself from Zelle scams is to only exchange money on Zelle with people (or business accounts) that you know and trust. However, getting scammed by a stranger isn’t the only way that you can lose money with Zelle.

You should also follow these steps to ensure that your Zelle account and any linked banking accounts are safe:  

• Upgrade your account security. Protect all sensitive accounts — including the Zelle app (if you use it) and online banking apps — with strong and unique passwords as well as two-factor authentication (2FA).
• Enroll in transaction alerts from your bank. Your bank should have fraud protection features in place that alert you to transactions or transfers. Aura’s all-in-one solution uses AI to monitor your linked bank accounts for suspicious transactions and unusual spending patterns that could reveal early warning signs of fraud.
• Double-check requests or money transfers from unknown senders. Make sure you know who is asking you for money. For example, check that all emails come from either Zelle or your financial institution’s official domain. Texts from banks typically come from a five-digit short code — not a standard ten-digit number.
• Be skeptical of urgent requests. Urgency, threats, or promises of huge rewards are all red flags of social engineering and phishing scams. Before acting, make sure you slow down, scrutinize the request, and talk to someone you trust.
• Never share sensitive information. Zelle and bank employees will not ask you to share passwords, authentication codes, or other sensitive information.
• Consider using a non-bank, peer-to-peer payment method instead. Zelle connects directly to your bank account, making it difficult to dispute or reverse transactions. Other services, such as Venmo, can be linked to a credit card for a 3% fee. Recovering lost funds is a much simpler process with a credit card company.
• Be cautious when using public Wi-Fi. Hackers can snoop on you over public Wi-Fi networks and steal passwords, spy on you, or hack your accounts. Use mobile data whenever possible in public places, or activate Aura’s VPN to encrypt your data and stay safe online.‍
• Consider identity theft and credit monitoring services. Aura monitors your most sensitive online accounts, personal information, financial accounts, and credit files for signs of fraud, and sends you near real-time alerts. If you are going to use Zelle with your bank account, Aura will flag suspicious transactions including those beyond your spend limit. Try Aura free for 14 days for immediate protection.

What To Do If You Fall Victim to a Zelle Scam

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Americans lost $118.1 million to scams on peer-to-peer payment apps like Zelle in the first three months of 2025 — a nearly 61% increase from the same time period of the year prior.

Here’s what you need to do if you’re the victim of a Zelle scam:

Try to cancel the payment

In the very off chance that the recipient hasn’t yet enrolled in Zelle through their financial institution, you may be able to cancel the transfer.

Go to the Zelle transaction in your online banking app, choose the payment, and select Cancel This Payment.

Determine whether or not you authorized the transfer

If the payment has been accepted, you’ll need to try to dispute it. Your course of action will depend on whether or not you knowingly authorized the payment.

For example, if someone tricked you into sending them money, you did authorize the payment. If someone hacked your account and transferred money, you didn’t authorize the payment.

• If you authorized the transfer: This is considered a scam and the bank is not legally obligated to reimburse you. Zelle states that, “certain imposter scams qualify for reimbursement” but doesn’t supply any criteria — you’ll have to contact your bank or credit union and go through its dispute process.
• If you didn’t authorize the transfer: This is considered fraud and will be classified as an “unauthorized electronic fund transfer" under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (Regulation E). You should contact your financial institution immediately to report the fraud and state: “This was an unauthorized transaction.” There are strong federal laws in place to help victims of unauthorized transfers.

The bottom line: If you were tricked into sending money to a scammer via Zelle, there is little chance that your money will be refunded.

Contact your financial institution or Zelle

Almost all cases of fraud need to be handled by your financial institution. Contact the fraud department at your bank and explain the situation. They will cancel your compromised accounts and cards and issue new ones to you while they investigate the fraud.

In the case of unauthorized transfers, federal law requires banks to investigate disputed charges within 10 days of receiving a complaint.

If you enrolled in the Zelle app directly, you can also submit a scam complaint to Zelle by using the online form or by calling customer support at 1-844-428-8542.

Was your dispute denied? If your financial institution or credit union denies redressal, file a complaint with the CFPB.

Report the scam to the proper authorities

Reporting scams and fraud to the authorities can help you recover from identity theft and protect others from becoming victims.

• File an official identity theft report: If you gave scammers your personal information, fill out an official identity theft affidavit with the FTC by visiting IdentityTheft.gov and then file a report with your local police (if you have information that could lead to an arrest or need to dispute fraudulent transactions and accounts).
• Report details of the scam: Help authorities fight scammers by reporting details of the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI at IC3.com.
• Forward scam emails and text messages. Forward phishing emails to your bank’s fraud department and to the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) at reportphishing@apwg.org. Scam texts can be forwarded to 7726 (SPAM).

Secure your digital identity

Any time you’ve been scammed, it’s a good idea to clean up your digital identity and protect your sensitive accounts. Make sure you’re using strong and unique passwords for every account and have enabled 2FA on your more sensitive accounts (banking, email, social media, etc.).

📚 Read more: How To Protect Your Identity Online →

Continue to monitor for fraud and identity theft

Identity thieves and scammers can wait days, weeks, months, or even years to use your stolen information. Make sure you regularly review your bank statements and credit reports for signs of fraud.

For ongoing protection, consider signing up for an identity theft protection service with credit monitoring and fraud alerts.

Will Zelle Refund Money If You Get Scammed?

Not always. If you sent money to a scammer, you technically authorized the transfer and Zelle and your bank are under no legal obligation to refund your loss. 

Zelle does claim that "certain imposter scams” are eligible for refunds, but offers no criteria for which ones. You’ll need to contact your bank and go through its fraud department.

After the CFPB dropped its lawsuit against Zelle and its banking partners, Consumer Reports’ advocacy program director, Chuck Bell, said:

“Fraud has become increasingly common on payment apps like Zelle and consumers have little chance of recovering their money from their bank if they get tricked into sending a payment to scammers.”

If your bank account was hacked or someone made an unauthorized transfer from your account, you’ll have a much better chance of disputing the fraud.

📚 Read more: Scammed on Zelle? Here's How To Get Your Money Back →

Zelle Scams FAQ

How do I know if a Zelle email is real?

Emails from Zelle only come from email addresses that end in @Zelle.com or @Zellepay.com.

Zelle will never ask you to pay to upgrade your account or receive a payment.

If you’re unsure, contact Zelle support directly at 1-844-428-8542.

What should I do if I sent money to the wrong person by mistake on Zelle?

If the recipient is not yet enrolled with Zelle, you may be able to cancel the payment through your banking app. However, if the recipient is already enrolled, the payment is instant and irreversible.

Zelle and your bank cannot retrieve the funds. Your only option is to try to contact the person you accidentally paid and request that they send the money back.

Does Zelle offer purchase protection (like a credit card)?

No. Zelle explicitly states that it does not offer a protection program for any goods or services purchased. It is designed to be used like digital cash between people who know and trust each other.

How do I report a scam directly to Zelle?

If you signed up directly through the Zelle app, you can call its customer support team at 1-844-428-8542.  

For unauthorized transactions through a participating bank, contact the bank’s fraud department.