All tools · Scam & Identity-Theft Recovery Plan
I sent money on Zelle to a scammer, can I get it back
Use the free tool — Scam & Identity-Theft Recovery Plan
The first 48 hours matter
Recovery is a sequence with clocks. Call your bank's fraud line before the transfer settles — once it settles, options narrow. If you also have a card involved, there's a chargeback window to watch. If this involves your credit account, you have a written dispute right under Regulation E, and it must be raised within 60 days of the statement showing the transfer. Every one of these clocks is computed from your own dates once you describe what happened.
Zelle: what's covered, and what often isn't
Zelle transfers you authorized yourself — even if you were tricked into it — are often not covered the way an unauthorized transfer would be. Banks sometimes reimburse anyway, and the CFPB has pressed them to. There's no guarantee here, and this is not legal advice. Do every step anyway: the record you build matters for the bank, for the credit bureaus, and for any later claim.
Freeze, alert, report
- Place credit freezes and fraud alerts so no new account can be opened in your name.
- File the identity-theft report with the FTC at identitytheft.gov.
- File a report with IC3.
- Request an IRS IP PIN to protect against tax-related fraud.
Florida resources
- Florida Attorney General: 1-866-966-7226.
- AARP Fraud Watch: 877-908-3360.
- This area also touches Florida Statute 817.568.
What isn't known
The material behind this plan doesn't say whether typed details are stored, so treat sensitive numbers with normal online caution. It also cannot promise your money comes back — Zelle recovery depends on your specific bank's policy. This is not legal advice; confirm every deadline with your bank and the agencies involved.
What to do next
Describe what happened and when. The free tool reads your own dates and numbers and turns them into an ordered plan — the bank and wire-recall script, your Regulation E dispute, the freezes and alerts, the FTC and IC3 reports, the IRS IP PIN, the Florida AG, and the follow-up letters — with every deadline computed for you. It's free, in English and Spanish. Not sure if what happened is even a scam? Use ScamCheck FL first.
Scam & Identity-Theft Recovery Plan is an informational tool based on Regulation E (12 CFR 1005), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (§§605A, 605B, 609(e)), the Fair Credit Billing Act, card-network chargeback rules, and Florida Statutes 817.568 as of 2025–26. It is not legal or financial advice and does not file reports or disputes. Coverage of authorised-but-induced transfers depends on the bank and the network. It is not affiliated with any bank, bureau or agency.