Zelle® / Person to Person Payment & Cybersecurity Tips - Don't be Scammed!
TIP: How to Send Money with Zelle® Safely
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.
• Only send money to people you know and trust Money moves fast with Zelle®, directly from bank account to 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.
• 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 Greater Community Bank will ask you to send them money with Zelle® as a test or to send money to avoid a fraud event.
• Neither Greater Community Bank 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, you should use another payment method with purchase protection, such as a credit card. © 2022 Early Warning Services, LLC. All rights reserved. Zelle® and the Zelle® marks are property of Early Warning Services, LLC.
• 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. For more information and videos on how to use Zelle® safely, visit “How to Pay it Safe with Zelle®.”
* U.S. checking or savings account required to use Zelle®. Transactions between enrolled consumers typically occur in minutes. Zelle® and the Zelle® marks are property of Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.
TIP: Know How to Spot a Phishing Scam.
Every day, people fall victim to fraudulent emails, texts and calls from scammers pretending to be their bank. GCB has joined with the American Bankers Association to help you spot phishing scams and protect your accounts.
Banks Never Ask That
We want you to become a pro at spotting a phishing scam, and it starts with these four words: Banks Never Ask That. When you know what sounds suspicious, you're less likely to be fooled.
Here are three common ways people get phished:
1. Text Message - GCB will never ask you to sign in or give personal info via text message. .
2. Email - Watch out for unsolicited emails that ask you to click a link or provide personal information.
3. Phone Calls - If you didn't expect a call from the bank, it could be a scam.
TIP: This is an important reminder about protecting your account and personal information.
GCB remains vigilant and aware of the identified threat of cyber-attacks in response to the Ukraine-Russia conflict and has taken proactive measures to safeguard against cyber threats.
You can also play a significant role in protecting your account and private information. Please exercise security precautions by utilizing best practices:
- Utilize Strong Passwords – Passwords should not be easy to guess and should use a minimum 8 alpha-numeric-symbol characters.
- Update Devices – Ensure mobile and desktops have the most recent security patches.
- Update Anti-Virus Software – Ensure your desktop and mobile devices have current versions of antivirus software and definitions.
- Email Safety- Be cautions and don’t open links or attachments received in emails or text messages that you are not expecting. If in doubt, don’t click it.
- Public Wi-Fi – Do not utilize public Wi-Fi or public devices when accessing sensitive accounts and information.
Protection of our customer’s information is a top priority and we are committed to safeguarding accounts and private information.