...The caller asked for me by name and stated in measured tones that he was from Chase Bank and he wanted to verify transfers being made from my account to someone in Texas. Wrong number, I said. I don’t have a Chase account.
But one was recently opened in your name, he replied, with two Zelle transfers. And minutes ago, someone tried to transfer those funds, $2,100, to San Antonio. Now, this carried the whiff of plausibility. I’m one of some 150 million people who has access to Zelle, the payments platform that lets you send and receive money from your phone. But my scam radar was also fully operational and pinging. “How do I know this isn’t a scam?” I asked, sounding like that guy in every movie who asks an undercover cop if he’s a cop.
He had a quick answer. Look at the number showing on your phone and Google it, he replied. “Now look up the Chase branch at 3 Times Square,” he instructed. “See the office phone number?” I did, and it matched the one on my phone’s screen...
Full story at https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/nyregion/zelle-chase-banking-scam.html.
Poking around on the web, I find that the Chase-Zelle scam is sometimes a CitiBank-Zelle scam (and probably other banks). But the lesson is always the same. No matter how convincing or urgent the message seems, always hang up and call the bank directly. Do not do anything the caller suggests. If it's your bank, you have a phone number on your related ATM/debit card. Call that number yourself. If it isn't your bank, look up the number on the web and call directly.
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