GREENSBORO, N.C. — Free money from Zelle or Cash App—just for filling out a government form? That’s what some TikTok videos claim. But Consumer Reports has a warning: it’s not a windfall—it’s simply not true.
Victims of scams on peer-to-peer payment platforms, like Zelle or Cash App, may try anything to get their money back. Enter Daraine Delevante and Gilbert Graim Jr., two social media influencers who have racked up millions of views, incorrectly claiming that filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will get you a payout from these companies — even claiming you can be compensated even if you weren’t a scam victim.
Graim’s TickTock video says, “Whether it happened to you or not, go put in a claim, because they’re going to have to run you that check.”…