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Buyer using Zelle does this look like fraud?
- Thread starter MarkWtbyCT
- Start date
What institutional business uses an AOL e-mail server? I'm quite sure they have their own e-mail server under zelle.com or similar name. I would less than politely tell the 'buyer' to go away.
Edit - Low End Lobster beat me to this above.
Edit - Low End Lobster beat me to this above.
Is this a buyer on TB? Please report it so the mods can shutdown the account.
The part about paying more and you sending the difference is a pretty common scam. Lots of other red flags but that’s one that seems super obvious. I’d be shocked if Zelle had that kind of policy, especially since it plays in to such a common scam.
100% scam. Zelle has no guarantees and you get the money instantly, like an expedited wire transfer. The second it's sent you would see it in your bank account in my experience. The aol email is the biggest red flag.
Just tell him that you’ve been trying to reach him about his car’s extended warranty.
I've done something similar to Craigslist "buyers" who send an email saying "I am interested in your item on Craigslist." This non-specificity on the thing they are supposedly interested in is a scam tell. I reply back that the chainsaw (not what the item is!) needs to have the plug replaced, is that Ok? They reply that it is Ok... blah, blah, blah. You can keep them going quite a while like this! Nothing like wasting a scammers time.
This is 100% a scam by the buyer, posing as Zelle to get you to send him $500. Do not do that or continue to communicate with this "buyer."
Zelle itself is 100% legit. It moves money between bank accounts, with no action needed on the sellers end. Just go to your bank webpage and see if the money is there. If it is, you're good. Obviously, you don't click on any email links to do this. People pay me with Zelle all the time. I don't care what their email address is, because it really doesn't matter. All that matter is that the money actually shows up on my bank accounts webpage.
What you are describing is a common scam, and is not Zelle-specific. It goes like this: A scam artist offers to pay you for something (goods or services), and "pays" you thru some online-oriented service. It could even be a check or credit card. Details can vary what happens next, but it always comes around to them asking you to refund part of it. What you don't know is that the original payment that they sent to you ends up not sticking, so you end up out the money you refunded. This is a very old scam, don't fall for it.
What you are describing is a common scam, and is not Zelle-specific. It goes like this: A scam artist offers to pay you for something (goods or services), and "pays" you thru some online-oriented service. It could even be a check or credit card. Details can vary what happens next, but it always comes around to them asking you to refund part of it. What you don't know is that the original payment that they sent to you ends up not sticking, so you end up out the money you refunded. This is a very old scam, don't fall for it.
While this looks super sketchy, and is most likely a scam, I wanted to put in my two cents:
I have used Zelle extensively for over 3 years, and never had a single issue. To me, it is the easiest, most efficient way to transfer money between two people. I wish more people used it. No fees. No waiting. Instant transfer from one bank account directly into another. Those who say there’s no protection, are mistaken. Each transaction is protected by the same fraud protection your banking institution regularly provides for the used account. I’ve had a very minute snag one time in making a transfer, and my bank fixed it immediately. Having said that, I tend to only use Zelle after I’ve seen/learned enough about an item and have had extensive discussions with the seller to feel comfortable in a transaction. Here on TB, I tend to think most sellers have established themselves with enough feedback and recognition through replying to threads that you can pretty much tell who’s legit and who’s not before buying.
Also- what led me here in the first place- like all internet based services, they do tend to go down occasionally. I’ve been trying to use Zelle for payments on various things since Thursday, and each of my payments has been refunded saying it “can’t be completed.” Apparently they’re having some technical issues as it is, so I thought you may be experiencing some of that… but no, this just looks like a scam.
I have used Zelle extensively for over 3 years, and never had a single issue. To me, it is the easiest, most efficient way to transfer money between two people. I wish more people used it. No fees. No waiting. Instant transfer from one bank account directly into another. Those who say there’s no protection, are mistaken. Each transaction is protected by the same fraud protection your banking institution regularly provides for the used account. I’ve had a very minute snag one time in making a transfer, and my bank fixed it immediately. Having said that, I tend to only use Zelle after I’ve seen/learned enough about an item and have had extensive discussions with the seller to feel comfortable in a transaction. Here on TB, I tend to think most sellers have established themselves with enough feedback and recognition through replying to threads that you can pretty much tell who’s legit and who’s not before buying.
Also- what led me here in the first place- like all internet based services, they do tend to go down occasionally. I’ve been trying to use Zelle for payments on various things since Thursday, and each of my payments has been refunded saying it “can’t be completed.” Apparently they’re having some technical issues as it is, so I thought you may be experiencing some of that… but no, this just looks like a scam.
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As noted, the real Zelle works great. My ex-wife certainly would have informed me by now if her alimony payments were not going through.
Clever. The address used lines up with the Zelle Wikipedia entry but the phone doesn’t.
While that is a type of protection that is not the “PayPal” style of protection people are referring to here. The Experian website spells it out nicely.
Zelle as an entitiy is legit. This is a scam!
Zelle is tied directly to your bank account, and for me, I only send Zelle money directly through the account. Like @Jaycat, I exclusively use Zelle to send money to my Ex for child support. I've never received money by Zelle, so I don't know about it. I've used Venmo, mostly for in person. I use Paypal all the time.
More and more I use Reverb now. Stuff sells quicker, and yeah it costs more but I save on the back end with shipping and you don't deal with this stuff as much. Do not ship this bass until money is in your hand. Cut bait on this and run far away.
Zelle is tied directly to your bank account, and for me, I only send Zelle money directly through the account. Like @Jaycat, I exclusively use Zelle to send money to my Ex for child support. I've never received money by Zelle, so I don't know about it. I've used Venmo, mostly for in person. I use Paypal all the time.
More and more I use Reverb now. Stuff sells quicker, and yeah it costs more but I save on the back end with shipping and you don't deal with this stuff as much. Do not ship this bass until money is in your hand. Cut bait on this and run far away.
