Can you block someone on Zelle? (step-by-step guide!)
Zelle has quickly become my favorite way to send money. For me and my friends, it beats Venmo and PayPal.
However, it’s not without its drawbacks. Especially when you keep getting random payment requests from scammers. So, can you block someone on Zelle? Here’s what we found…
Can you block someone on Zelle?
Yes, you can stop someone on Zelle from requesting or sending you money. The person you block doesn’t have to be in your contact list, and the process is very easy.
This article looks at Zelle and the unique Zelle payment system: what it is, how it works, and how to keep all your Zelle transactions safe and private.
Zelle is a digital currency trading platform. It integrates with banking apps, allowing bank transactions to complete payments without details like account numbers and routing numbers.
The platform is especially useful for making and requesting payments.
However, while useful, the request-for-payment feature can become cumbersome. To manage this feature, Zelle allows users to block requests, regardless of whether the requesting identity is in the user’s contact list.
What is Zell?
Zelle is a U.S. digital payments network built and owned by Early Warning Services, LLC, a private financial services company owned by: Bank of America, Truist, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, Bank of America and FuGuo bank. Zelle was founded in 2017.
The Zelle app is available as a free download on Android and iOS platforms. By adding a bank account or card, you can make Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfers from the Zelle app. ACH transfers refer to the network, or movement of electronic money between participating banks.
However, Zelle has a popular feature that allows users to request payment from another Zelle user simply by entering an associated email address or US phone number.
The request might be for a friend, a group of friends, or a family member. The recipient simply accepts the request, and the money is instantly transferred from one bank account to another, independent of the banking institution. However, this service is only available within the United States.
To use Zelle, participants only need a U.S. bank account and a U.S. cell phone number or email. Most people already have Zelle installed in their bank’s app. There’s also a separate Zelle app that friends can use by signing up for a debit card.
After registering an email or US mobile number through your mobile banking app or the Zelle app, the user selects who to pay, enters their email or mobile number and enters the amount.
The recipient will receive a notification with instructions on how to complete the payment.
How to Block Someone on Zelle
Here’s a simple and clear guide to blocking someone on Zelle.
Whether you’re using the actual Zelle app or accessing it through your bank, the steps are the same.
To block someone on Zelle:
- Open the Zelle app
- Go to your Zelle settings menu -Access it by tapping “More options” then “Settings”
- Click “Privacy Settings”
- Select the “Block Request” option
- Select or enter who you want to block
- confirm
How does Zelle handle security features?
Zelle stresses the importance of knowing and trusting who you’re sending money to. Once a payment is authorized and sent, it cannot be canceled or retrieved if the recipient is already registered with Zelle. This is because deposits are made instantly.
Zelle users are not required to share sensitive financial or personally identifiable information when sending or receiving money using Zelle. The only information required is an email address or a US mobile phone number linked to a US bank account. Additional authentication and monitoring features are in place to keep payments safe and private.
Problems with Zelle arise when users are tricked into sending money to identities who are using the system properly but are not entitled to your money.
Zelle stresses the need to confirm each recipient’s contact information. When in doubt, always contact this person for a double check.
Beware of payment scams. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.if someone sells something at an unbelievable discount and Think twice about insisting on paying with Zelle. Only send money to people you know and trust.
Knowing how you pay is crucial. If you don’t know someone or are unsure, you will get what you pay for; using a credit card may be a better way to pay. Many credit card companies offer built-in buyer protections for cardholders.
Zelle does not offer a protection plan for any authorized payments made through Zelle.
The Zelle service is designed for paying out to people the payer already knows and trusts, and the service is not responsible for the goods and services sold through the system.
When and Why to Block Someone on Zelle
Unfortunately, many scammers use Zelle to manipulate people into authorizing money transfers, and new scams emerge every day. Transactions through Zelle are instant and irreversible once completed, making Zelle very attractive to criminals.
Zelle cheats can:
- Selling counterfeit, damaged or defective items
- impersonating friends and family
- Send fake text messages and calls
- send fake invoice
- masquerading as your bank
- masquerading as a romance company
- Trick you into responding to false fraud alerts
- Trick you into accessing your bank account
- Asking you to confirm a fake Zelle payment
- sell you items that don’t exist
- Tricking you into reimburseing them for an account upgrade that doesn’t exist
Zelle’s Understanding Fraud and Scams page is essential reading if you plan to use Zelle’s services for currency transactions.
As a short-term strategy, Zelle does allow users to block requests.
To block someone on Zelle, go to your Privacy Settings, select the “Block Requests” option, and select the account you need to block.
It doesn’t matter if the person is on your contact list or not. Zelle offers a feature to prevent anyone from sending and receiving money.
If you become suspicious of a particular account, it’s best to block that account immediately, especially if the request comes with emotional information.
How to Stop Someone from Sending You Money on Zelle
Blocking someone from sending you money on Zelle is the same process as blocking someone from sending a payment request.
To stop someone from sending you money on Zelle, follow these steps:
- Open the Zelle app
- Go to your Zelle settings menu -Access it by tapping “More options” then “Settings”
- Click on Privacy Settings
- Select the “Block Request” option
- Select or enter who you want to block
- confirm
How to Unblock Someone on Zelle
Unblocking someone on Zelle is as easy as blocking them. The steps are the same, except instead of selecting “Block” you select “Unblock” as follows:
- Open the Zelle app
- Go to your Zelle settings menu
- Hover over privacy settings
- Select the “Block Request” option
- Select the blocked contact and select “Unblock”
- confirm
summarize
The Zelle digital money transfer platform is a popular, convenient and ultra-fast peer-to-peer payment system. Designed by and owned by traditional banks, the platform is free to use.
However, the system is also increasingly plagued by digital scams that involve manipulating users into transferring money for counterfeit or defective goods, impersonating banks and/or impersonating friends and family.
Unfortunately, Zelle has no protection policy against users who have been scammed of their money.
Zelle users are asked to exercise caution by carefully checking accounts and all communications through Zelle, blocking suspicious users, and avoid making any retail purchases using Zelle.
