How to avoid scams and fraud on Zelle® and protect your finances

Protect your assets

What’s the difference between fraud and a scam? Let’s look at an example from Zelle®.

Fraud is when someone gets access to your Zelle® account without your knowledge or permission.  Because you didn’t authorize this transaction, you can usually get your money back.

A scam is when you authorize a Zelle® transaction but were tricked in some way. For example, if you use Zelle® to pay a supplier but never receive your product or service, that’s a scam.

If you’ve authorized a payment, it’s harder to get your money back—and may not even be possible.

In either event, contact Truist for help.

Tips to help protect your business

  • Use Zelle® only with people or businesses you know and trust.
  • Update your security settings with multifactor identification so it’s harder to access your online banking account.
  • Use hard-to-guess passwords, and update them frequently.
  • Sign up for Truist texts and email alerts so you’ll get notifications about important activity on your Truist accounts.
  • Don’t give out your personal information online, such as your home address or phone number.
  • Stay clear of public Wi-Fi.
  • Beware of phishing calls and emails. Don’t click on email links if you’re not sure of the sender. Remember that Truist will never call or email you to ask for your account information such as passwords. If a caller claims to be from Truist, hang up and call 888-228-6654.
  • Only scammers will ask you to send money to yourself.
  • Does the deal sound too good to be true? It probably is. When in doubt, ask to pay in an alternate method. Zelle® doesn’t offer payment protection, so it’s important to only send to friends or businesses you trust.
  • If a caller tries to create urgency and wants you to use Zelle®, ask to send an alternate payment method. Urgency is a common scam tactic. If the recipient can only take Zelle®, that should be a red flag that it may be a scam.

Want to learn more about keeping your accounts secure? Visit our fraud and security page.

For your protection, Zelle® should only be used to send money to friends, family, other people, or businesses you trust. Neither Truist nor Zelle® offers a protection program for payments that you authorize in Zelle®. Enrollment with Zelle® through Truist Online or Mobile banking is required. U.S. checking or savings account required to use Zelle®. Transactions typically occur in minutes when the recipient’s email address or U.S. mobile number is already enrolled with Zelle®. For more information, view the Truist Online Services Agreement at https://www.truist.com/content/dam/truist-bank/us/en/documents/agreement/online-and-mobile-banking-service-agreement.pdf. Your mobile carrier’s message and data rates may apply.

Zelle® and the Zelle® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.

Truist Client Commitment: Protecting your information and identity is our priority. If you believe your account security has been compromised or have any concerns, call us immediately at 844-4TRUIST (844-487-8478) and learn more about fraud and security. As always, Truist respects your privacy.  To learn more, visit Truist.com/privacy.