Tidemark Federal Credit Union has recently learned of numerous reports of scammers involving Zelle®. Zelle® is a money transfer app that enables users to send and receive money from friends, family, and other trusted contacts.

 

The scammers are calling, emailing, and/or texting individuals claiming to be from their utility company (ie: electricity, water, etc.) and claiming that they have not received payment for their most recent utility bill. As a result, the scammers claim they will turn off utility services unless they receive immediate payment through Zelle®. The fraudsters are often spoofing replicate phone numbers to deceive consumers.

 

At Tidemark, we value your privacy and safety. With the use of Zelle® and other peer-to-peer money-sharing services over the last several years, there has been a sharp increase in fraudulent activity. This is why it is crucial to not share any important information such as Social Security numbers, birthdates, cash, credit card, debit card, or bank account numbers with anyone unless you are certain of the caller's authenticity.

 

If you experience any suspicious activity when using Zelle® or any P2P platform, please do not engage and instead report it.

 

To verify anyone claiming to be a representative of your utility company, please contact your utility company directly. Please report any suspicious activity with your account to Tidemark.

 

If you are a victim of fraud, you may also report it to the local authorities and/or call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11.