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Tips to avoid online payment and wire transfer scams and fraud

Stay safe with your payments

Online payments, like Zelle® or ExpressSend®, and wire transfers, whether done in a branch or online, are quick forms of payment and are therefore difficult to cancel once authorized. Once you authorize a payment using Zelle®, it can only be canceled if the recipient hasn’t enrolled with Zelle®. Similarly, once an ExpressSend or wire transfer is initiated, the funds are usually gone for good, as these transactions typically cannot be canceled or reversed.

Whenever you’re sending a payment, make sure the recipient’s information is accurate. If it’s not, or if it is later determined that the payment was part of a scam, you may not be able to get it back.

Always double-check who you are sending money to before you make a payment or initiate a wire transfer. Also, be suspicious of changes to payment instructions.

Scammers will often try to pressure you into taking some sort of urgent action. Whenever someone calls you urging immediate action, hang up, and contact the organization directly using a trusted number or email address.

Remember: Scammers can hack email accounts and spoof caller ID to appear legitimate. Always verify wire or payment requests by calling a trusted, known phone number, not new contact information provided in an unexpected message or email.

Scammers may pressure you to stay quiet or even lie about why you’re sending money to avoid raising suspicion. Always feel comfortable discussing financial requests with someone you trust, like a family member, friend, or bank representative.

Sensitive information, like your Social Security number, and financial information, like bank account passwords, should not be shared with anyone. If someone obtains this information, they could use it to impersonate you and open accounts or transfer money.

Remember: Legitimate organizations, like Wells Fargo, will not reach out to you requesting this type of information. If you receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be from Wells Fargo and requesting this information or pressuring you to take an urgent action, don’t engage. Report to Wells Fargo. For more information, visit our Tips to identify and avoid bank imposter scams page.

Watch out for common scam scenarios

Pause and verify before initiating an online payment or wire transfer, especially in the situations below.
Urgent or unexpected requests
You receive a high–pressure demand to send money.
Changes to payment instructions
Requests to change wire or payment instructions, often for high–value transactions like real estate.
Imposter scams
Scammers impersonate trusted contacts and pressure you to send money for fake problems.
Payment app scams
You receive urgent fake payment alerts, followed by bank-impersonation calls.
Online marketplace scams
You’re asked to pay for goods or services that are never delivered.
Investment scams

"No–risk, high–reward" investment promises in crypto, gold, or overseas property.

Relationship scams
A scammer befriends you online, builds trust, then asks for money for a fake emergency.
Overpayment or refund scams

You receive a check and are told to send back excess funds by wire or online payment.

Business upgrade scams
Emails claim you must pay a fee to “upgrade” your account in order to receive a payment.

When in doubt, stop and get help

Consult with your bank or another trusted financial advisor to validate the legitimacy of a request. If you suspect your Wells Fargo account was used in a wire or online payment scam or fraud, contact us immediately.

Report to Wells Fargo

Enrollment with Zelle® through Wells Fargo Online® or Wells Fargo Business Online® is required. Terms and conditions apply. To send or receive money with Zelle®, both parties must have an eligible checking or savings account enrolled with Zelle® through their bank. Transactions between enrolled users typically occur in minutes. For your protection, Zelle® should only be used for sending money to friends, family, or others you trust. Neither Wells Fargo nor Zelle® offers purchase protection for payments made with Zelle® - for example, if you do not receive the item you paid for or the item is not as described or as you expected. Payment requests must be sent to enrolled Zelle® users. For more information, view the Zelle® Transfer Service Addendum to the Wells Fargo Online Access Agreement. Your mobile carrier’s message and data rates may apply. Account fees (e.g., monthly service, overdraft, Business Account Analysis fees) may apply to Wells Fargo account(s) with which you use Zelle®.

Wells Fargo makes money when it converts one currency to another currency for you. The exchange rate provided to you is set by Wells Fargo in its sole discretion, and it includes a markup. For additional information related to ExpressSend and foreign currency, please see the ExpressSend Terms and Conditions.

Enrollment in Digital Wires is subject to eligibility requirements, and terms and conditions apply. Applicable outgoing or incoming wire transfer service fees apply, unless waived by the terms of your account. Your mobile carrier's message and data rates may apply. For more information, see the Wells Fargo Online Access Agreement and your applicable account fee disclosures for other terms, conditions, and limitations.

Zelle® and the Zelle® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.

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