Warnings on How to Use Zelle Safely

Doris Roof, Montecito Bank & Trust Fraud Manager, and Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson, give advice on how to use Zelle safely. Roof reeals that Zelle guidelies are set up by Early Warning Systems. To help prevent fraud, Early Warning Systems is adding more prompts, asking questions such as, "Did you initiate this transaction or did someone else ask you to initiate the transaction?" Other Zelle Tips include the following: - Dont send money to people you don't know. - Confirm the email and/or mobile number when receiving requests or sending money, looking for slight changes, such as an l replaced with an i. - Look at the entire header and be sure it doesn't originate from overseas. - If you get a text or email warning saying your account has been hacked, don't reply directly. Instead contact your bank from the number on the back of your bank card. - Legitimate companies are unlikely to send invoices through Zelle. If you receive a payment request through Zelle, don't trust it. - Don't reveal anything in response to an unknown text or email. Call yourself to verify its legitimacy. - Be careful not to reveal two factor verification codes. Pay Pal Warning! In Maine, 30,000 Pay Pal coounts were hacked. They are advising people to ignore unexpected messages and to reach out directly to Pay Pal to report them. Lastly, they're advising customers to change their password, using 12 + characters and choosing multi-factor authorization. Good News! Five defendants were sent to federal prison for receiving, transporting and laundering money with the Grandparent scam. Victims were directed to send money to unoccupied homes across the country and scammers would collect the package, take their share, before sending it off to other scammers overseas.