Is the Zelle Fraud Scam real or a scam?

This is a confirmed scam. Do not click any links, do not provide personal information, and do not send money. This is a voice phishing scam.

What should I do if I received the Zelle Fraud Scam?

Do not respond or click any links. Block the sender, report the message as spam, and delete it. If it came via text message, forward it to 7726 (SPAM).

What if I already fell for the Zelle Fraud Scam?

Change your passwords immediately, contact your bank if you shared financial information, place a fraud alert on your credit, and file a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

How do I report the Zelle Fraud Scam?

Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov, and your local law enforcement. If it impersonated a specific company, report it to that company as well.

Zelle Fraud Scam: Is It a Scam?

Very High Prevalence Type: Voice Phishing

Yes, this is a scam. Do not click any links or provide personal information.

Scammers call or text you pretending to be your bank's fraud department, claiming someone is trying to send money from your account via Zelle. They then trick you into sending money to yourself, which actually goes to them.

How This Scam Works

You receive a text that appears to be from your bank asking if you authorized a Zelle payment. When you reply 'No,' you get a phone call from someone claiming to be your bank's fraud department, often with a spoofed caller ID matching your bank's real number. They say that to 'reverse' the fraudulent payment, you need to send money to yourself via Zelle. They walk you through sending money to an email or phone number they control, claiming it is linked to your account. Since Zelle transfers are instant and typically irreversible, the money is gone immediately.

Red Flags to Watch For

Text asking to confirm a Zelle transaction you did not make
Follow-up call from 'fraud department' after replying to the text
Instructions to send money via Zelle to reverse a charge
Caller asks for your online banking username or one-time passcode
Banks will never ask you to send money to yourself to fix fraud

Example Scam Messages

Text: [Bank Name] FRAUD ALERT: Did you authorize a Zelle payment of $500 to John M.? Reply YES or NO. After replying NO, phone call: 'This is the fraud department at [Bank Name]. We see an unauthorized Zelle transaction on your account. To secure your funds, I need you to send $500 via Zelle to this email address, which is linked to our fraud recovery system. This will reverse the transaction.' --- Text: ALERT: Suspicious Zelle activity detected. $1,000 transfer pending. Call 1-888-555-0146 to verify.

What to Do If You Received This

Do not reply to fraud alert texts from unknown numbers
Hang up and call your bank directly using the number on your card
Your bank will never ask you to send money via Zelle to reverse fraud
Never share one-time passcodes with callers
Log in to your bank app to check for actual suspicious activity

What to Do If You Fell For It

Contact your bank immediately to report the fraudulent transfer
File a dispute with your bank (success varies but it is worth trying)
File a police report
Change your online banking password
Report to Zelle at zellepay.com/support

How to Report This Scam

Report to your bank's fraud department
Report to Zelle at zellepay.com/support
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
File a complaint with FBI IC3 at ic3.gov

Last updated: February 10, 2026