Can Zelle be Hacked? What Should be the Preventive Measures?

Can Zelle be hacked? Let’s find out. There are many mobile payment options like Venmo and Paypal. Other than these, another payment option is making quite waves for all the wrong reasons: Zelle. 

The platform itself is fine, but scammers need to be more intelligent with it. And that calls for staying cautious. Can Zelle be hacked? The answer is yes, but there are also some ways to secure yourself.

In this article, we will talk about Zelle, how it works, and what scams you get into with Zelle. We will also discuss the preventive measures you can take to secure yourself.

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What is Zelle, and how does it work?

Zelle is an instant payment service that you can use to instantly send money to your loved ones or friends. The service was launched in June 2017 and was previously called clearXchange. Its headquarters is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

Zelle uses the Automated Clearing House ( ACH ) payment system to speed up payments between US bank accounts. When you want to send money to your friends or family, you can initiate an ACH payment for your friend, who receives it in a few minutes. 

A mobile application is available for browsers and devices, and it is easy to set up an account there. The platform itself is fine, but scammers need to be more intelligent with it. And that calls for staying cautious. 

Before discussing the preventive measures, it is vital to get into the most prevalent scams your Zelle can get into.

Famous Zelle Scams that can get you hacked

Frauds are almost everywhere in 2023; we can say they are only going to rise in numbers by the statistics. Here are some famous scams you can get into.

Money mule scams

Any evening while you are sitting at your home and scrolling through the internet, you may come across a messenger giving you a lucrative job offer. In this scenario, the request is usually irresistible. While you inquire more about it, you come across a hiring manager who asks for some processing fee so he can get you on board. 

Because you are desperate for the job, you link your credit card to your Zelle account and send money to someone with no job or intention to return your money. Such scams are called money mules, and they are dangerously prevalent.

Red Flags 

• You get in contact with the so-called hiring manager.
• The hiring manager may tell you they need the money to arrange job equipment.
• Usually, they talk about the instant onboarding process without any interviews.
• The manager will reach out to you generally via telegram.

Account upgrade scams

As we already discussed, scammers are getting very intelligent with fraudulent strategies. On any given day, you can receive a call from someone impersonating Zelle customer support. On a call, he may ask you about your current plan and whether you want to upgrade. 

These people mostly have upselling skills, and they may ask you to upgrade your account if you provide them with the information. You are in for potential hacking once your credit information is out there.

Red Flags 

• You will receive a call from an unknown number.
• They will be prompt and ask you to give them your account details.
• You will sense a vibe of urgency.
• The email account would not be from a verified resource.

Smishing

Smishing is when someone tries to be a bank impersonator to scam you for money. It happens like this. You receive a text message from someone trying to call from a bank. They ask you about a recent transaction and may tell you that your account is compromised. 

If you have money in your bank account, they may ask you to send them to an alternative Zelle account that will be their own. In this scheme, the impersonator will target someone naive and vulnerable. If you panic and transfer the money, it’s gone for good.

In another scheme, you may receive a text message from someone claiming to be from Bank so you can click on a specific link to see your latest transactions. If you click on your link, your Zelle account can be hacked.

Red Flags

• The text messages are primarily from fake Well Fargo customer support.
• There will be urgency in the tone of an impersonator.
• Text messages will give you options to excite your panic.

Facebook Marketplace scams 

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This one is quite famous. If you are a seller on the Facebook marketplace, it is very easy to get scammed or even hacked by Zelle fraud. On any day, you may receive a response on your listing from someone who is an alleged buyer. They will tell you different stories about their inability to pay you through Bank of America and ask you to receive the payment on your Zelle account. 

Once you agree, they send you a fake email address that looks just the same as Zelle. Because it is a fake email address and may have Malware, you get yourself hacked when you click on it.

In another scenario, the buyer can ask you to upgrade your Zelle account with a processing fee, and they will try to do this on your behalf. Once you give them your information, you are doomed.

Red Flags

• You will receive an email with some grammatical errors.
• You may receive the email in your spam folder.
• The fake buyer will be more interested in your high-ticket products.
• You will find the same scams on Craigslist as well.

Recover money scams

This one is prevalent as well. In this type of scam, you usually receive a phone call from a fraudster who informs you of an unauthorized transaction. In a panic, the user may share all the information regarding their Zelle account only to get hacked.

Red Flags

• The number will always be from an unauthorised resource.
• At times the number may have a city code assigned to it.
• The scammer will walk you through the recovery process.

How to stay safe from Zelle hacking – What are the preventive measures

Zelle hacking is on the rise because scammers are intelligent with their strategies. However, there are some ways to save yourself. 

• Refrain from entertaining unknown numbers: You are supposed to pick up only some calls that come your way. Sometimes it is a good idea to skip the call altogether if it comes from a resource you know nothing about.
• Never click on links: Clicking on unknown links is the easiest way to get hacked. Do not try to click on a link that comes to you via email or text.
• Unrealistic expectations for the Internet: Always have realistic expectations from the Internet. People will try to lure you with fake job listings and brilliant crypto returns. But most of the time, they say all fake promises, and you shouldn’t fall for them.
• Too interested a buyer: if a buyer shows too much interest too soon, he is probably a scam, and you should stay miles away.
• Be wary of fake customer support: The actual customer support of any reputable payment company will never ask for your account details. If somebody is asking for it, he intends to get you hacked.
• Don’t be swept off by sob stories: Scams can be romantic and mainly involve sob stories. Do not listen to any sob story; never entertain the asking for the money part. 
• Zelle business account: Remember, only you can upgrade to a Zelle business account, and no one can do this on your part. Beware of any person asking to do the account upgrade on your part.
• Always set up two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication is the secure way to stay safe while making any transaction or operating any instant payment platform. But remember to keep your passcode private.
• Do Zelle transactions via email: if you know the sender, then make sure to perform all the transactions with your email and never with your phone number. Email is easier to hack as compared to phone numbers.

Add an extra layer of security with PureVPN to avoid Zelle Scams

PureVPN is your go-to ticket if you want to add a nice layer of security with PureVPN to avoid Zelle scams.

• Available Worldwide: PureVPN has 6500 servers in over 70 countries, so you are covered globally.
• Kill switch feature: PureVPN has a wonderful kill switch feature. If your VPN connection drops unexpectedly, your internet connection will be automatically blocked. This will prevent any leaks of your real IP address.
• Military-grade encryption: PureVPN offers encryption that will help you prevent scam websites. 

Here is how you can use PureVPN to avoid being scammed.

• Download and install PureVPN and subscribe to the premium package.
• Connect to a server of your choice.
• Use Zelle.

Conclusion

Zelle Scams are common these days, and securing yourself is very important. Make sure you read about the scams that are prevalent and also read about the security measures. Also, remember to subscribe to PureVPN.

Frequently Asked Questions