5 Tips to Use Zelle^® Safely

Published on June 27, 2025 | 3 min read | Webster Bank

Digital payments continue to grow across the U.S. and with issues like identity theft and other cybercrimes on the rise, it’s important to know what you can to do help protect yourself – and your money – when sending and receiving money digitally. One of the best ways to protect yourself is to only send money to people you trust.

No sensitive account details are shared when you send and receive money with Zelle^® – only an email address or U.S. mobile number tied to a bank account in the U.S.

Authentication and monitoring features are in place to help make your payments secure, but, pay it safe: Only use Zelle^® with people you trust¹, and always make sure you are using the correct U.S. mobile number or email address!

Here are 5 ways to use Zelle^® safely:

1. Only send money to those you trust: Zelle^® should only be used with friends, family and others you trust¹. 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 do not get what you expected, you may not get your money back.
2. Treat Zelle^® like cash: 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 within minutes¹. And again, once you authorize a payment to be sent, you can’t cancel it if the recipient is already enrolled.
3. Beware of payment scams: If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. For example, a stranger selling online concert tickets at a steep discount and insisting you pay with Zelle^® may be a scam. Only send money to people you personally know and trust.
4. Confirm your recipient’s contact information: Make sure you have the correct U.S. mobile phone number or email address for the person you want to send money to. 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.
5. Understand your payment options: If you don’t know a person or aren’t sure you’ll get what you paid for, using your credit card may be a better payment option. Many credit card companies offer built-in buyer protections for cardholders. Check the terms and conditions of your credit card to see what’s offered.

Discover more tips and resources for safe payments

Sources:

Zelle^® Safety 101 | Zelle

¹To send or receive money with Zelle^®, both parties must have an eligible checking or savings account. Transactions between enrolled consumers typically occur in minutes. Check with your financial institution.

Zelle^® and the Zelle^® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.