Zelle 'Reverse the Fraud' Self-Transfer Scam

You get a text asking if you made a Zelle payment; when you reply no, a 'fraud department' calls to help. They tell you the only way to stop the theft is to send yourself a Zelle payment following their steps — but the recipient they have you enter is the scammer, so you are really sending your money away. Zelle transfers are instant and hard to reverse. Banks never ask you to Zelle money to 'cancel' fraud.

• A text asking to confirm a Zelle payment you did not make.
• A follow-up call from the 'fraud department' offering to help.
• Instructions to send yourself money via Zelle to 'reverse' it.
• A calm, scripted agent who stays on the line.

• Being told to send Zelle money to stop fraud.
• The 'fix' involves you moving your own money.
• The caller pressures you and discourages hanging up.
• The number may spoof your bank's real caller ID.

These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.

• You to Zelle your own money to them.
• To keep you on the line and moving fast.
• Additional transfers before you catch on.

• Hang up and call your bank using the number on your card.
• Never send Zelle or any payment to 'reverse' or 'cancel' fraud.
• Treat any instruction to move your own money as a scam.
• Slow down; verify independently.

• Wire Recall / 'We'll Refund You' Account Drain
• Zelle Small-Business 'Instant Payment' Reversal