All About the Zelle Scams Facebook Marketplace 2024

The Zelle scam on Facebook Marketplace has been getting more and more common; let’s see what it is all about.

Unfortunately, scams have become a common occurrence nowadays; every day there’s a new scam surfacing. Some are related to phishing attacks, while others scam us through calls and messages, which makes one wonder how to block scam calls on mobile phones.

The Zelle scams Facebook Marketplace is one such online scam. Read through this blog to learn all about this scam, from how to tackle it to tips to stay protected against it.

Quick Answer:

Zelle Facebook marketplace scams are online frauds where the perpetrator sends counterfeited emails to trick you into getting money and also includes phishing links.

What is Zelle?

Zelle is a money transferring service, via which you can send as well as receive money. All someone needs is a USA bank account and number, and they can easily access this app and website. This platform directly sends money from your bank to the receivers. 

It’s a hassle-free service available in over 2000 banking apps; their primary aim is to enable people to send money to everyone, especially those who don’t share the same bank with you.

To find out if your bank supports Zelle, you can search in your bank’s application or go to Zelle’s official site and search in their “Search for your bank” section.

Zelle Scam in Facebook Marketplace Overview

Zelle Facebook Marketplace scams are rising with time, as the bank only stops those payments that they find suspicious. The main target of this scam is the item listed, a few hundred dollars. 

In this scam, a person approaches the vendor, tries to purchase an item from them, and informs them that they want to pay through Zelle. The scammer tricks the vendor by adding phishing links.

What Actually Happens in the Zelle Business Account scams?

Here’s a detailed description of the Zelle Facebook Marketplace scam!

• The scammer pretends to be a shopper and contacts the vendor, asking them to buy their product and using Zelle as the payment mode.
• If the vendor agrees, the shopper goes ahead and asks the vendor for his/her email address. Zelle allows the shopper to request payment without actually transferring money. 
• Once the shopper has access to the email address of the vendor, they send a counterfeit Zelle payment email stating that the shopper has used a Zelle Business Account to pay for their purchase. 
• The email also mentions that to receive the payment in full, the vendor needs to pay a fee to upgrade to a Zelle Business Account as well.
• The shoppers also contacted the vendor, saying that they had also received a similar email. 
• To accelerate the situation, the shopper sends money both for the upgrade and purchase before demanding a refund from the vendor, showing counterfeit screenshots as proof of the purchase, so the vendor refunds money without checking their account at all. 
• The scammer might even send a counterfeited email containing links or ask to provide personal credentials for a phishing attack. 
• Later, they use those details to gain access to your account or to steal money from your account.

Tips to Avoid Facebook Marketplace Zelle Scams

In the online realm, you have to be very careful and alert when it comes to sending or receiving your hard-earned money. One should follow the below-mentioned tips to avoid Zelle Facebook Marketplace scams. 

1. The Zelle Business Account is a thing, but most banks do not offer it. You need to have a business account with a bank for them to allow you to access the Zelle Business Account.
2. Zelle doesn’t ask a person to sign up for a business account just to sell an expensive item.
3. Do not lend your email address or phone number to a shopper.
4. A shopper can further call you, pretending to be your bank. Never give anyone your important passwords over the phone or email.
5. Avoid clicking on any links in emails, as they can trigger a phishing attack.
6. Someone overpaying for an item is a suspicious activity. If you think something isn’t right, dig a bit about your intuition and trust your gut.
7. Do not accept gift card payments. Also, avoid paying in advance of receiving.

Also Read:  Top 14 Codes to Check If Your Phone is Monitored

Payment Apps You Can Use Instead of Zelle

Purchase protection is the key point when it comes to making a secure payment against an online purchase. There are a bunch of online payment apps that provide you with this feature. Such as

1. Facebook Checkout
   • This is one of the most secure ways to purchase on the Facebook marketplace. 
   • This is e-commerce’s checkout payment option, where you can sit back and relax about your purchase. 
   • It only applies when you check out your payment through Facebook. That means when you use other peer-to-peer payment methods, you don’t get purchase protection.

2. PayPal
   • This is an online payment system that makes every online transaction safe and secure. 
   • Be it shopping online or receiving or sending money online. PayPal believes in Buyer Protection. 
   • When you shop using PayPal, if something doesn’t arrive or the product isn’t as described, you get a total of 180 days to get a full refund. 
   • If you get involved in a scam, the payment service allows you a total of 60 days to inform them. 
   • The purchase protection covers all purchases where PayPal is used and on payments made through their websites.

These are the two safest apps you can use instead of Zelle. To be safeguarded in the online world, you need to be careful not to send your personal information to any unknown person, and also never click on any suspicious links. 

How to Differentiate Emails from Scammers?

Being Cyber savvy in the virtual world becomes a priority when it comes to keeping your valuable money and details safe and secure. 

If you suspect an email to be suspicious, here’s how to identify if the email is sent by any scammer. 

1. The only domain extensions used by Zelle are “xyz@zelle.com” and “xyz@zellepay.com”.
2. Even if the profile picture has Zelle’s logo, the payment service doesn’t use any other domains like “xyz@Gmail.com”, “xyz@aol.com” or even “xyz@yahoo.com”.
3. You can check this by opening the “To” and “From” email fields. This can be seen by clicking on the down arrow in your email provider.

Precautions are better than cures, so it’s always advisable to double-check the emails. Once you’ve received an email, you should check all the details, from spelling to the brand’s email addresses. It’s very important to not click on any links, especially when the transaction happens between two strangers.

Also Read: Is the Facebook Email Alert From security@facebookmail.com Legit?

What Should You Do If You Suspect a Scammer?

If you come across a money scam crime happening around you, you should follow the subsequently mentioned steps.

1. Immediately stop all contact with the scammer.
2. Check your bank account and change passwords if needed.
3. Sometimes some links can give the scammer access to your device, so it’s advisable to open your bank on any other device.
4. Check if your device is accessible to the scammer.
5. Report the scam to Local Law Enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission, etc. 
6. Immediately report all suspicious emails and calls to FTC. Zelle says that if you have received a suspicious email, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They further go ahead and say,
   1. To report a fake email to the FTC, email them at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
   2. Forward the counterfeited email to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org.
   3. And, if you receive a fake text message, you can forward it to SPAM (7726).

Final Thoughts

The Zelle Scam Facebook Marketplace is an ongoing scam where the perpetrator sends counterfeit emails and messages pretending to be a shopper. The vendor is put in a situation of panic, and the main goal is either to get him to click on a phishing link or to get money from the buyer with a Zelle Business Account scam. 

You should follow and keep in mind all the things mentioned in this article to not get scammed. Safe Shopping!

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