Sent $2,500 via Zelle to Scammer — Bank Says I Authorized It

Looking for advice on this situation. Sent $2,500 via Zelle to Scammer - Bank Says I Authorized It Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Details: I'm in a situation where I need to understand my legal options. Has anyone dealt with something similar?

File a complaint with the CFPB immediately. Payment processors and banks respond much faster to regulatory complaints than to customer service tickets. I've seen $20K holds released within a week after a CFPB complaint.

This happened to me with a different processor. The demand letter approach works — cite their Terms of Service provisions about timely disbursement and threaten arbitration. Most processors settle to avoid the cost.

For anyone in this situation: don't rely on a single payment processor. Always have a backup processor ready to go. Diversification isn't just for investments.

This happened to me with a different processor. The demand letter approach works — cite their Terms of Service provisions about timely disbursement and threaten arbitration. Most processors settle to avoid the cost.

Keep in mind that payment processor disputes are governed by the contract you signed, not consumer protection law (since you're a merchant). Read your merchant agreement carefully for the dispute resolution process.

Good discussion. Tagging this for the resource library.

Update: Thanks everyone for the guidance. I consulted with an attorney and we're moving forward. The advice here helped me understand what questions to ask and what to expect. Will update when there's a resolution.