How to Use Zelle^® to Safely Send Money

Zelle^® should only be used with friends, family, and other people and businesses you know and trust. Why? Because you can't cancel a payment once it's been sent, if the recipient is already enrolled with Zelle^®. And if you send money to someone you don't know, or you don’t get what you expected, you may not get your money back.

While Zelle^® and cash are certainly different, both provide the recipient with fast access to the money you send. With Zelle^®, money moves directly into the enrolled recipient's bank account—typically in minutes. And again, once you authorize a payment to be sent, you can't cancel it if the recipient is already enrolled.

Make sure you have the correct U.S. mobile phone number or email address for the person to whom you want to send money. When in doubt, contact your friend to double check. If you authorize a payment to be sent to the wrong person, you may not get your money back.

If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. For example, a stranger selling online concert tickets or other goods at a steep discount—and insisting you pay with Zelle^®—is probably a scam. Review the following Pay it Safe videos for helpful tips on how to avoid common types of payment scams.