Person 2 Person (P2P) payment options allow users to send money back and forth online through a linked bank account or card. It’s a fast and easy way to send and receive money with people you trust. Unfortunately, fraudsters know that P2P solutions are an easy way to scam consumers out of their hard-earned money. Using P2P services safely can help you avoid becoming a victim.
Dutch Point Credit Union has partnered with Zelle® to provide members with an easy to use P2P payment solution. Zelle® is a fast, safe and easy way to send and receive money with people you trust, like your babysitter, coworkers, fellow PTA mom, or your son’s soccer coach. Whether you just enrolled with Zelle® or have been an active user for a while, there are a few tips you should always keep in mind to ensure you are being safe when sending money.
Tip #1: Only send money to people you know and trust.
Money moves fast with Zelle®, directly from your bank account to another bank account within minutes*. So, it’s important you know and trust the people you’re sending money to. 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 for a product or service you might not receive (like paying for something in advance), you may not get your money back. Keep in mind that sending money with Zelle® is similar to handing someone cash.
Tip #2: Beware of payment scams.
One example of a payment scam is buying event tickets at a price that seems too good to be true from a stranger and never receiving them. If the seller asks you to use Zelle® to purchase the tickets, you should refuse unless the seller is a person you personally know. Also, keep in mind that no one from Dutch Point Credit Union will ask you to send them money with Zelle® as a test or to send money to avoid a fraud event. If you receive a text or phone call from someone stating they are from Dutch Point, and they ask for your Digital Banking login information, your secure access code, or your debit or credit card information, do not give it out. If you are told to send money with Zelle® to get rid of a virus on your computer or to start a dispute for a “fraudulent” transaction, do not send the money. Call or text Dutch Point Credit Union right away to confirm the validity of the transaction. Neither Dutch Point Credit Union nor Zelle® offers a protection program for authorized payments made with Zelle®, so if you aren’t sure you will get what you paid for, it’s best not to make the payment at all.
Tip #3: Treat Zelle® like cash.
Did your friend change phone numbers recently? It’s easy for people to change their phone number or email address. When in doubt, contact your friend to verify the email or U.S. mobile number they used to enroll with Zelle® before you hit “Send.” Another good check point for ensuring you're paying the right person is to confirm the first name that is displayed for enrolled emails and U.S. mobile numbers. If a person has already enrolled a U.S. mobile number or email address with Zelle®, you can’t cancel the transaction, so it’s important you get it right the first time.
P2P payment options are meant to be a reliable and easy alternative to exchanging cash. Knowing how to use them safely can help you make your payments more secure and help you avoid losing money. Dutch Point Credit Union in Connecticut is committed to educating our local community on ways to send and receive money safely. For more information and videos on how to use Zelle
® safely,
visit “How to Pay it Safe with Zelle®.”
Zelle® and the Zelle® marks are property of Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license. * U.S. checking or savings account required to use Zelle®. Transactions between enrolled consumers typically occur in minutes.