How to Send Money With Zelle® Safely

Zelle® is a fast, safe, and easy way to send and receive money with people you trust, such as your babysitter, coworkers, fellow PTA mom, or your son’s soccer coach. Whether you just enrolled with Zelle® or have been an active user for a while, keep these tips in mind to ensure your safety when sending money.

1. Only Send Money to Those You Know and Trust

   Money moves quickly with Zelle®, directly from one bank account to another within minutes. Therefore, it’s essential to know and trust the people you’re sending money to. Why? Because you can’t cancel a payment once it’s been sent if the recipient is already enrolled with Zelle®. If you send money in advance for a product or service you don’t receive, you may not get your money back.

2. Beware of Payment Scams

   If you receive a call from someone threatening negative action, such as fraud on your account or utilities being shut off unless you make a payment with Zelle®, take a moment to think it through. This might be a scam. Scammers often use fear and urgency to prompt impulsive actions rather than reason. Remember, no one from Central Bank will ever ask you to send money with Zelle® as a test or to avoid a fraud event.
   
   Another example of a payment scam is purchasing event tickets from a stranger at a price that seems too good to be true and then never receiving them. If the seller asks you to use Zelle® for the purchase, refuse unless the seller is someone you personally know and trust. Neither Central Bank nor Zelle® offers purchase protection for payments made with Zelle®  - for example, if you do not receive the item you paid for, or if the item is not as described or as you expected.

3. Treat Zelle® Like Cash

   Did your friend change phone numbers recently? It’s easy for people to change their contact information. Always ensure the name that appears on the confirmation screen matches the intended recipient. When in doubt, contact the recipient to verify the U.S. mobile number or email address they used to enroll with Zelle® before you hit “Send.”
   
   Remember, if a person has already enrolled with Zelle®, you can’t cancel the transaction, so it’s important to get it right the first time. Sending money to the wrong person is like handing cash to a stranger.

For more information and videos on how to use Zelle® safely, visit “How to Pay it Safe with Zelle®.”