14 Zelle scams to be aware of: How to recognize and avoid them

What are Zelle scams?

Zelle scams are financial crimes that directly involve the payment systems. Zelle payments are instant and usually irreversible, making them lucrative for scammers. If the customer realizes they transferred money to a criminal, they can’t contest the charge or ask their bank to overturn it.

How do Zelle scams work?

Scammers can use a few different techniques to scam their targets over Zelle. However, one of the core aspects present in most Zelle scams is pressure. The target is coerced to transfer money as quickly as possible without having enough time to review transaction details or the receiver’s request. Psychological pressure makes the potential victims more likely to ignore the red flags of a financial scam until it’s too late and the money can no longer be retrieved.

The criminals themselves have a few tools they can use — spoofed email addresses, phishing links, and stolen Zelle accounts. Although it’s more likely for senders to get scammed, they can also be the culprits by requesting refunds from recipients.

Common Zelle scams

Zelle scams are often part of broader social engineering campaigns, using manipulative tactics to steal money. Cybercriminals often build an emotional bond between themselves and their target by pretending to be a friend or a loved one on social media. Zelle scams are also common in e-commerce marketplaces, where overpayments and falsified proofs can be used for deception. Let’s see how and where some of the most common Zelle scams happen.

1. Impersonator scams

Impersonation scammers use stolen Zelle accounts and spoofed emails for their campaigns. They assume another user’s identity to deceive the person whose payment they’re requesting. The unsuspecting target sends the money, thinking it’s going to reach the intended recipient.

Impersonators can also pretend to represent a financial institution, like the target’s bank, for instance, by claiming that the potential victim must make a payment for overdue fees into a specific Zelle account, which in reality is owned by the criminals.

2. Romance scams

Romance scams using Zelle are social engineering attacks that aim to create a romantic emotional bond between the scammer and their target. According to the 2025 EU Serious and Organized Crime Threat Assessment (EU-SOCTA), romance scams are among the most common digital financial crimes. Romance scams are long-term schemes that allow criminals to claim increasingly large sums over time without suspicion.

Zelle social media scams are often done by criminals pretending to court people with the sole purpose of receiving money from them. These relationships are usually long distance, and the victim doesn’t meet the criminal in person. Instead, the scammer may ask for travel fare or request monetary gifts and small loans, which they promise to return in person in the future. They might also claim to live in a foreign country and use a friend’s Zelle account to excuse mismatching names or explain missing payments on their end.

3. Facebook Marketplace Zelle scams

Facebook Marketplace scams are among the most common financial schemes affecting the platform’s users. Sellers place a fraudulent ad on Marketplace and inform interested buyers that they can’t use any of the officially supported payment methods and prefer to use Zelle instead. Once they receive a payment for the item, they block the buyer without delivering it to them.

Buyers can also scam Zelle users by claiming to have overpaid for an item and asking the seller to send back this money to them. The prominence of Zelle scams on Facebook Marketplace and the lack of customer protection were among the reasons why Zelle was sued by the New York attorney general in 2025.

4. Zelle business account scams

Business account scams are fake payment schemes usually aimed at individual sellers. A buyer asks for the seller’s email address to pay for an item. The seller then receives an email claiming to be from Zelle. The email states that the buyer has to transfer a specific sum to the seller to upgrade the seller’s account to Business. Once the procedure is done, the seller has to send the money back to the buyer via Zelle.

In reality, the buyer is using a spoofed email address to contact the seller. The buyer submits an advanced payment, which they cancel before the predetermined transaction date — one of the limited ways to cancel Zelle payments. Zelle doesn’t offer Business account upgrades based on the amount of money transferred. If the target were to complete this exchange, their account would remain the same and the buyer would leave with additional funds.

5. Fake email scams

Zelle email scams are frequently used to trick random users into losing money. Scammers send spoofed emails telling unsuspecting Zelle users that they have pending payments, need to accept transactions, or verify their personal information. The goal is twofold: to steal money and gain access to personally identifiable information.

Zelle users can send payments via the platform using phone numbers and email addresses, even if the recipient hasn’t created a Zelle account yet. Scammers can take advantage of this by sending spoofed links to random email addresses. The user then thinks they’re activating a new Zelle account to receive the payment. However, the scammers use the spoofed email to gather their victims’ personal data instead.

6. Phishing scams

As proven by some of the scam examples we’ve discussed previously, Zelle has been effectively used for different types of phishing attacks. Scammers use fake email addresses and text messages with false Zelle links to steal funds and personal information. They can also create false login websites, sign-up forms, and information requests to effectively convince users to unwittingly submit this information themselves.

7. Refund request scams

Due to Zelle’s money transfer policies, you can’t request a direct refund. Instead, if you want to get a refund, you have to ask the other person to make a new transfer. This has created apt conditions for false refund requests.

In these Zelle payment scams, the criminal transfers money to an account and claims they did it by accident. They then ask the person who received the money to refund it by transferring it to an account under a different name. Instead, the scammer uses scheduled payment transfers, so the target doesn’t receive the money before they’ve refunded it, leaving them short of funds.

8. Fake buyer scams

Fake buyer scams typically rely on false proof of payment, scheduled transactions, and phishing links. The buyer either schedules a payment or sends a falsified screenshot showing they’ve completed their end of the bargain. They can say that an issue prevented Zelle from transferring the payment despite the platform’s instant transactions.

The scam buyer can also accuse the seller of providing false payment details, urging them to make a transaction first to prove their validity. The buyer then keeps all the money. If they agreed to pay after receiving the purchase, they essentially got it for free and even earned extra funds from the seller.

9. Fake invoice scams

Fake invoice scams depend on the recipient not checking their Zelle account to confirm a transaction. The scammer sends a false invoice as proof that they’ve transferred the money. In some instances, they might schedule a payment to appear more convincing, only to cancel it before it’s due.

Fake invoices are common for reserving items on marketplaces or paying for them in smaller installments over time. The seller claims that due to low funds, they can’t pay the full amount at once, but commit to scheduled transactions over time. However, none of the transactions actually reach the seller.

10. Job offer scams

Job offer scams are usually done to take advantage of contractors and freelancers. The scammer commissions a project with the service providers. They then send a check, usually worth a few thousand dollars, to the recipient, claiming it will cover supply costs. The scammers use a hacked Zelle account to send this money.

If the target accepts the transaction and uses the funds, and the person whose account was hacked contests the charge with their bank and succeeds in their claim, the recipient is held accountable and must return the full amount. Meanwhile, the scammer disappears with the victim’s personally identifiable information and without any repercussions — no final job offer either.

11. Tech support scams

Tech support scams involve cybercriminals pretending to represent a digital service provider to farm financial and personal information from the customer base. They send a spoofed email to their target about an issue with their payment or subscription, requiring them to make a payment using a Zelle link in the email. The link is then used to funnel sensitive information, breach the target’s accounts, or sell this data on the dark web. The Geek Squad email scam is a prominent example of how such tech support scams succeed.

12. Rental Zelle scams

Rental fraud usually involves tenants being deceived into paying for a unit that either doesn’t match the description or doesn’t exist. A landlord agrees to sign a contract with a tenant and asks them to pay the deposit without visiting the property first. Once the money is sent, the tenant finds out that the property doesn’t exist or isn’t actually up for rent.

Zelle deposit scams can be particularly painful for the tenants. The deposited amount is usually worth hundreds of dollars, and due to Zelle’s refund policy, they may not be able to contest the charge and get the deposit back.

13. Investment and trading scams

Investment scammers persuade their targets to transfer money using Zelle with the promise of lucrative investment opportunities. They may offer higher returns than official investment platforms and require periodic money transfers to qualify for future returns, all the while pocketing the money for themselves. The returns never materialize, and the investors never see their money again.

14. Prize and lottery scams

Lottery scams among Zelle users usually involve emails claiming they’ve won a competition and need to claim their prize. In some instances, the user might be redirected to a website claiming to be affiliated with Zelle and asking to cover shipping costs only. The user then enters their payment card details and the phone number or email address affiliated with the Zelle account, essentially submitting this information to the scammer.

Other scams state that the user won money and needs to activate their account to claim it and make a transaction to verify that their account is valid and active. However, they don’t receive any winnings, and the initial transaction goes to the scammers.

Zelle scams signs to look out for

Zelle generally recommends users only transfer money to friends and family members. However, it can be a quick and convenient way to pay for small purchases or commissions. If you plan to use Zelle more frequently, you should know how to spot the early warning signs and avoid making financial errors.

• Pressure and urgency. Scammers will usually try to coerce you into making a payment as quickly as possible. They hope that while under pressure, you will overlook suspicious behavior, like payments being sent to an email address unrelated to the recipient, or spoofing links being used for the transaction.
• Unexpected payment requests or transfers. If you see an unknown account sending you a transfer request or depositing money into your Zelle account, proceed with caution. They may be using a hacked account to move these funds, and if the original account owner notices these transactions, you will be held liable for them.
• Suspicious emails and text messages. All someone needs to know to transfer you funds via Zelle is the email address or phone number connected to your US bank account if the bank you’re under supports Zelle transactions. If you start receiving emails or texts claiming to be from Zelle despite having no pending or planned transactions, someone might be trying to scam you.
• Suspicious links or attachments. The aforementioned emails might contain links that lead you to sign-up or login forms or ask for additional financial information to complete a transaction. These websites are developed specifically for phishing campaigns and aim to steal your personal data.
• Overpayment or refund requests. Scammers often rely on overpayments to claim funds from their targets. Check if the person asking for a refund transaction has actually transferred the money or if it’s still on hold. If you see the latter status, the person might cancel the scheduled transaction as soon as they receive your repayment.
• Inconsistent transaction details. If the sender claims that the instant transaction was lost or delayed, or if they send you an invoice, double-check the details to see if they match the transaction history and if any payments have been made to your account.
• Mismatched contact information. Although it’s not illegal for you to send or receive money on someone else’s behalf, scammers often use this trick to steal funds using hacked Zelle accounts. See if the email address matches the name of the other party, and watch out for excuses as to why they’re relying on another person to send or receive funds.
• Requests to use Zelle as an alternative payment method. This scamming trick is common on e-commerce sites like eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Although the platforms have built-in payment methods, the buyers or sellers ask to use an alternative method to avoid being caught for breaching the terms of service.

What happens if you get scammed through Zelle?

That might depend on how your account was scammed. If you simply made a transaction to a scammer using the official Zelle app, the biggest loss might be your personal funds. However, things get more dire if phishing is involved. Criminals can put your very identity in danger and cause emotional distress in the process.

If the scammers use a false Zelle login site and you enter your credentials into it, they can then access your account. Using your Zelle details, they can make other false transactions to scam other users, draining your funds and putting you in a difficult situation where you’re not guaranteed a refund.

With access to your financial details, criminals can commit identity theft. They can create false social media accounts to buy or sell items, using your Zelle account for the financial scam. If your login credentials match those you use for other accounts, hackers can attempt to breach them. They might also gather your personal information and sell it on the dark web for profit, endangering your sensitive data. 

What to do if you’ve been scammed on Zelle

If you accidentally fall for a Zelle scam, your primary goal is to secure your financial and personal information as quickly as possible.

1. Cease all financial transactions. If possible, freeze the bank account that’s tied to your Zelle. If the payment made using your funds is advanced, you may be able to cancel it on your end.
2. Report the scam to your bank and Zelle. Making an official report about a scam incident increases the likelihood that your funds will be retrieved.
3. Request a clawback from Zelle. As of 2024, the platform has provided reimbursements for some qualifying scam transactions. However, it has not publicly disclosed the criteria for qualifying scams, so it’s unclear to users if their case can be approved or not.
4. Gather all evidence. Save everything you can — the scammer’s account details, email addresses used in the transaction, the amount of money transferred, message screenshots, invoices, and any other information related to the scam that you have.
5. Change your account passwords and set up multi-factor authentication. If you submitted your login credentials to scammers, update them immediately. Use a strong and unique password and make sure to add an extra verification step to prevent unauthorized account access.
6. File a police report about compromised financial or personal data. Despite Zelle’s limited consumer protection, you can make an official report to the FTC and your local police department regarding financial fraud.
7. Lock or freeze your credit. To prevent criminals from accessing your credit details and taking out fraudulent loans, you can lock or freeze your credit account with one of the three major credit bureaus.

How to avoid Zelle scams

Zelle scams can badly hurt your finances and your personal security. However, once you know how to identify suspicious transactions, you can still reliably use the service for your daily payments.

• Verify first. Know who you’re sending the money to. Avoid sharing your Zelle details with strangers and opt for a safer payment method, especially on platforms that support built-in transactions.
• Send money to trusted people only. Zelle’s purpose is to simplify transactions between friends and family. Prioritize payments to those you know and avoid sending money to unfamiliar people.
• Be cautious even if the request comes from someone you know. It’s possible their account is hacked, and the scammer is requesting payment based on their recent transactions. Ask the account owner if the request is legitimate before you send money.
• Never share your passwords or personal information. Zelle is directly tied to your bank account, and revealing sensitive information can endanger your funds. Keep in mind that Zelle will never request you to provide any identifying information over email or phone.
• Set up real-time alerts for transactions. Don’t trust a simple screenshot or a claim that a payment got delayed. If you’re making or waiting for a transaction, check your account activity to see if it’s legitimate. Review your official bank account for any suspicious transactions. You can use a premium service like NordProtect to ensure round-the-clock monitoring. NordProtect sends security alerts and notifications if it notices new credit activity.
• Set up identity protection. The safety of your personally identifiable information is closely tied to the safety of your financial details. With NordProtect’s identity theft protection, you can be prepared for identity fraud attempts and receive support if your sensitive data is compromised.