In the world we live in today with almost everything being digitalized, keeping your financial accounts and other details such as email, phone number is more than crucial, which is why most Zelle users wonder can someone hack your Zelle with your phone number.
Zelle is a popular P2P payment service that lets users send and receive money to and from their bank accounts.
Zelle works primarily with U.S. bank accounts and credit unions, however, you can use Zelle without bank account by linking your debit card to the app.
The best is, getting started with Zelle is simple and straightforward — all you'll need before you start sending money is to download the app and enroll with Zelle (which take just some minutes).
Because Zelle is a popular financial app that deals with fund transfers between banks, many hackers target the platform to perform their fraudulent activities.
Thankfully, Zelle is uses the latest security encryptions to secure users, making it very difficult for hackers to break into users account and it only takes a skilled hacker to do so.
However, hackers are not just ready to give up, which is why, they use another way to gain access to users accounts by using the latest scam techniques making their victims give them access to their accounts without them knowing they are actually dealing with a hacker.
When the hacker collects information from you that's enough to gain access to your account, stealing your finances should just be a game play for him.
It's never a good idea to give an inch of information to a hacker because for them, no information is considered "small."
So if you've been wondering how can someone hack your Zelle with your phone number, keep reading.
Having a good understanding on Zelle scams and how they work is very important for all Zelle users. We'll cover a section on that later in this article.
That being said, in this article, I'll show you how can someone hack your Zelle with your phone number.
Table of Contents
What is a Zelle Scam?
A Zelle is a situation where you are knowingly involved in a transaction and you gave the "ok" and authorized a payment to be sent from your Zelle account.
There are many types of Zelle scams of which the most common is the social engineering scam according to many sources.
How Does a Zelle Scam Work?
The majority of Zelle scams use social engineering, in which the con artist gains the victim's trust before asking for money.
One of the most typical scams begins with a fake text message that asks for authorization for an upcoming transaction or warns of fraudulent activity on a particular account.
Users that respond to the message (often by texting back "no" as instructed) get a call from what appears to be a trustworthy financial institution.
Scammers can fake phone numbers so that the caller's number looks like one from a bank or credit union.
The scam then takes a turn.
Targets/victims are alerted that a thief is attempting to withdraw money from their bank account and that, in order to be safe, they should transfer money back into their account.
Ideal targets include those who have not yet enrolled with Zelle, which gives potential con artists the chance to link their bank accounts to a target's phone number.
The con artist will guide the victim through the two-factor authentication process and instruct them to read out the verification code that has been provided to the victim's phone in order to do this.
The final stage of the scam is when the scammer convinces the victim to send money to their own phone number using the victim's phone number that is linked to the fraudster's account.
The money is now actually leaving the target's account because the phone number has now been linked to the fraudster's account.
Repeated transactions are often requested by con artists in an effort to "recover" lost money.
The scam mostly targets people who don't already use Zelle, who lack technical expertise, and who think that sending money to their personal phone number cannot fall into the hands of a con artist.
Also Read: Does Zelle Show Your Name When You Send Money?
Is It Safe To Give Your Zelle Phone Number?
Generally speaking, it is never safe to give your Zelle phone number to someone you don't know.
Zelle advices users to so business only with people they trust and know.
Besides, what's the point of giving your Zelle phone number to someone if it's not for them to send you money?
So if you're giving your Zelle number to someone you trust to send you money, then you're completely out of risk otherwise, you run a great risk of getting scammed on the platform with just your number.
We'll see later, how can someone hack your Zelle with your phone number.
Can Someone Hack Your Zelle With Your Phone Number?
Yes, someone can hack your Zelle with your phone number though, not directly.
The Zelle scam example above clearly explains how scammers spoof their victims phone numbers to gain authorized access to their victims account.
But, that's not just the only way to they can hack your Zelle with your phone number.
If a hacker has your phone number and is skilled enough in convincing their victims to give them him details about their accounts, chances are he should be able to gain access to your account with little efforts.
A hacker can use your phone number to send you a text message that will look more like an alert or an urgent message either from your bank or from Zelle itself asking you to take immediate action to secure your account.
In the message, the hacker can include a phishing link which when clicked, will open a page that will ask information about your account such as your Zelle account login credentials and your bank account details.
Once you enter the details on the page, consider your account as hacked because the hacker would definitely not waste anytime to perform his fraudulent activities on your account before you even notice there's something going wrong.
That's just one of the great ways someone can hack your Zelle with just your phone number.
It's also how someone can hack your Cash App with just your name, phone number or email.
So, I'll recommend you to keep whatever information that is linked to your Zelle account such as your phone number, email and bank account details privately.
Never give your Zelle information to anyone that asks for it through SMS or phone call.
In case you notice something wrong with your account, disconnect your bank account from Zelle right away and contact your financial institution.
However, if you've been scammed already and looking to get your money back, here's how to get money back from Zelle if scammed.
Scammers can also randomly send you money and receiving money from strangers on Zelle isn't most of the time an error from the sender — report the issue to Zelle as soon as you encounter it.
How Can I Protect Myself from Zelle Scams?
Keeping your account safe and far from scammers reach is very important to secure your finances.
That being said, here's are some tips to keep your account safe from scammers.
1. Do Business Only with Those You Know and Trust
Zelle advises customers to do business only with people they know and trust.
If you use Zelle to make a payment, you might not be able to get your money back if you accidentally authorized a scam payment.
While Zelle offers a simple and convenient payment method, limiting its use to persons you know will lower your risk of falling victim to fraud.
2. Don't Respond to Unsolicited Text Messages or Emails
This advice is applicable to all suspected frauds, not just those using Zelle.
Don't reply if a message claims to be from your bank but you didn't get in touch with them beforehand.
To learn more about your account and any potential security risks, call your financial institution immediately.
You can also notify your bank that you've been phished, if your account isn't having any issues.
You can cooperate with your bank to protect your account if the phishing effort led you to divulge some personal information.
3. Watch for "Urgent" Deadlines or Requests From New Recipients
Start thinking twice if someone advises you to take immediate action to fix a financial issue.
Scammers use pressure and scare techniques to make you feel panicked and less able to think clearly.
Users in the utility scams described in the section above were given a 30-minute window to take action before their power was cut off.
Hang up the phone right away and contact the company directly if you detect any suspect behavior from someone requesting quick payment on behalf of your bank, a utility, or another agency.
Also be on the lookout for requests for new Zelle payments from any banks, companies, or utilities, especially if you've never paid them using Zelle previously.
For additional information, get in touch with the company directly via their official website or phone number if you ever receive requests to pay with Zelle.
4. Never Give Anyone Your Two-Factor Authentication Passcode
Two-factor authentication (2FA), also referred to as multifactor authentication or two-factor, offers an additional layer of security to your accounts.
Every time you log into your account, you'll get a new one-time password that lasts for 30 to 60 seconds and is often sent to you through email or text message.
Never divulge your one-time passcodes to anyone after enabling 2FA for your banking accounts.
Real organizations won't ever ask you for your passcode, but thieves posing as your bank or utility company may pressure you with a variety of false justifications.
5. Never Pay an "Outstanding Bill" Using Zelle
Since Zelle is an online payment system, it is susceptible to the majority of other scams that plague similar systems.
One of the more common fraud methods used by con artists is asking for money for unpaid utility bills and other debts.
This has been done with Zelle and iTunes gift cards.
You can avoid disappointment by adhering to one simple rule: if a business uses a peer-to-peer payment tool, such as Zelle or Venmo, to pursue an unpaid invoice, you are the victim of a fraud.
Some businesses let you pay your bills via a service like PayPal, but the majority provide a variety of payment options.
You can always tell a corporation you think they are chasing a bill unfairly over the phone.
Instead of agreeing with any requests from cold callers, call the company directly at the number provided on their website.
Even if you are familiar with the number, this is true.
Even if a phone number appears real, it could still be a fraud because phone numbers can be faked.
Final Thoughts: Can Someone Hack Your Zelle With Your Phone Number
Zelle is a safe and convenient payment service that lets users send and receive money almost instantly.
Because Zelle is a popular financial app that deals with money transfers, scammers target the platform for their fraudulent activities.
We've seen how someone can hack your Zelle with your phone number and at this point, you should know that it is important to keep any information linked to your account as private as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone steal my info from Zelle?
Yes, someone can steal your info from Zelle is you give them enough details that they can use to gain access to your account knowingly or not.
Can I get scammed receiving money on Zelle?
Basically, receiving money on Zelle does not mean you are getting scammed. However, if a stranger sent you money on Zelle, consider reporting to your financial institution because they can send huge amounts to destroy your banking history.
How do I stop getting scammed on Zelle?
Keep your phone locked when it's not being used, Confirm cash requests by contacting the person through a known phone number, even if you've sent them money before, Refuse to send money to anyone you've never met in person..