r/atlanticcity • u/Mysterious_Yak1543 • 12h ago
watch out for zelle scam
I just wanted to share an experience I had in Bally's earlier today. I believe it was a scam attempt but I didn't fall for it. I was walking around near the carousel bar and an attractive woman, maybe about 30 walked up and started talking to me. (This was my first reason to be suspicious lol.) She explained that she had cash, but needed to check into the hotel and that required a card. She asked if I would accept the cash and Zelle her the amount so she had money on her debit card to use. I declined and she didn't insist.
Later I googled and apparently yeah, it's a scam where after you unlock your phone, the scammer will ask to take the phone, to enter their phone number or email address into zelle... but then they will transfer a higher amount than you had agreed. I read that the scam has been reported in Hoboken in recent months. Also her story didn't even make much sense as it was around 11am so not anywhere near check in time for a hotel.
Stay safe out there folks. This is actually the second time I've encountered an "unlocked phone" scam in AC.