How to Send Money with Zelle® Safely

Zelle® provides a fast, private, and easy way to send and receive money with people you trust, like your sibling, friend, babysitter, coworkers, fellow PTA mom, or your kid’s soccer coach. Sending money has never been easier, but with convenience comes risk. From spotting common scams to following simple best practices, understanding how to protect yourself can help you enjoy the convenience of instant payments with confidence.

How to Use Zelle® Safely

Whether you’re new to Zelle® or have been using it for a long time, these three tips will help keep your transactions safe.

Tip #1: Only send money to people you know and trust
Using Zelle®, money is sent directly from account to account typically within minutes^*skip to disclosure, so it’s important you know and trust the people you’re sending money to. If the recipient is enrolled in Zelle®, payments cannot be canceled once they are sent. And if you send money to someone in advance for a product or service you don’t end up receiving, you may not be able to get your money back.

Zelle® Video Center

Visit the Video Center to learn how to spot common scams.

Tip #2: Beware of payment scams
If someone calls you threatening a negative action, such as fraud on your account or utilities being shut off unless you make a payment with Zelle®, this is a red flag. Scammers use fear and urgency to get you to act on impulse rather than reason. DuPage Credit Union will never ask you to send money with Zelle® as a test or to avoid a fraud event.

Another common scam involves the purchase of event tickets. If a stranger offers you tickets at a price, especially if it seems too good to be true, and insists you pay with Zelle®, this is a red flag. In these situations, people send money to buy the tickets and never receive them, and there’s no way to get your money back. Only use Zelle® with someone you personally know and
trust. If you don’t know, say no. Neither DuPage Credit Union nor Zelle® offers purchase protection for payments made with Zelle®.

Tip #3: Treat Zelle® like cash
Always confirm the email address and the U.S. mobile number of the person you’re sending money to. It’s not uncommon for people to change their email addresses or phone numbers, so make sure it’s current and correct! When using Zelle® in our app, ensure the contact information on the confirmation screen matches the intended recipient. When in doubt, contact the recipient to verify the email address or U.S. mobile number they used to enroll with Zelle® before you hit “Send.”

Remember, you can’t cancel a payment once it’s been sent if the recipient is already enrolled, so it’s important you get it right the first time—and every time! For more information and videos on how to use Zelle® safely, visit Paying it Safe: Digital Payment Education.