Influencers are misleading people who've been scammed on Zelle and CashApp

Social media influencers falsely claim CFPB will pay out victims of Zelle and Cash App

Misinformation drives tens of thousands of dubious complaints to federal database

Consumer advocates warn vulnerable communities are being exploited

Misusing a federal complaint tool

A new wave of social media influencers is pushing misinformation and dubious financial advice by exploiting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus complaint portal.

Two prominent figures, Daraine Delevante and Gilbert Graim Jr., have told followers that filing complaints with the CFPB would result in payments from Zelle and Cash Appclaims that are not true, according to an investigation by ConsumerReports. Both men sell e-books, classes, and complaint templates while promoting this message to audiences numbering in the hundreds of thousands.

The CFPB has accused the payment apps of enabling fraud, but its complaint system is not a path to compensation. At least two of the agencys enforcement actions against the companies have already been dropped.

Dubious claims and false hope

Delevante and Graim have built lucrative businesses selling complaint templates and consumer law advice, much of it misleading. One of Graims TikTok videos urging people to complain against Zelleeven if they had never lost moneywent viral with more than 5 million views.

Delevante, who calls himself The Credit Hero, charges $77 for a downloadable complaint template and has even used AI-generated avatars in videos to make his claims. In July, he told followers they could get medical debt erased by filing a complaint, according to the ConsumerReports article by investigative reporter Derek Kravitz.

Experts at the nonprofit National Consumer Law Center examined their material and called it egregious pseudo-legal advice. They urged consumers misled by the pair to file complaints with the CFPB, the Federal Trade Commission, and state attorneys general.

Complaint surge overwhelms database

The scale of the misinformation campaign is reflected in the CFPBs complaint data. In the first eight months of 2025, more than 61,000 complaints were filed against Zelle and Cash Appnearly 15 times the previous yearly average.

Many of the complaints use nearly identical language lifted from the influencers templates and videos. Yet CFPB data shows that only 15 customers have received refunds from the companies as a result of filing complaints. Nearly all others were denied.

Cash App said fewer than one in 10,000 transactions results in fraud, but acknowledged it has made significant improvements to detecting and acting on complaints. Zelle, meanwhile, says it requires partner banks to reimburse customers in confirmed fraud cases but has not disclosed how much money has actually been returned.

Exploiting the vulnerable

Consumer advocates say the misinformation disproportionately targets financially vulnerable communities, including Black Americans. We need accurate information and financial literacynot social media influencers selling snake oil, said Chicago-based researcher Pepper Miller.

Both Delevante and Graim have faced scrutiny over their businesses, which are now inactive in Wyoming and Texas, respectively, for failing to meet tax requirements. FTC records also show multiple complaints from consumers who said Delevantes products damaged their credit or left them out of pocket.

Weak enforcement fuels confusion

The controversy highlights how the CFPBs weakened enforcement role has created space for misinformation to spread. The agency has been defunded and scaled back much of its oversight of payment apps. A new rule that would have expanded its authority over digital platforms was rolled back by Congress earlier this year.

Advocates warn the vacuum leaves consumers more exposed. It may get worse before it gets better, said Ruth Susswein of the nonprofit Consumer Action. We have to be more skeptical online and push elected officials to deliver genuine protections.

What consumers should do

• Slow down and be cautious. Scammers often create a false sense of urgency to push you into hasty decisions.
• Never share sensitive details. Legitimate bank employees will never ask for your PIN, passwords, or one-time codes.
• Be skeptical of free money claims. If an influencer says you can get a payout without being a fraud victim, its a red flag.
• Report quickly. Contact your bank or payment app immediately. Even if you dont get a refund, your report may help catch criminals and protect others.
• Turn to the right authorities. File complaints with the FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov), the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov), or your state attorney general.
• Document everything. Keep emails, texts, receipts, and screenshots. Detailed evidence strengthens your case with regulators and law enforcement.

CEO Sam Altman: It keeps me awake at night

• CEO Sam Altman warns as many as 1,500 people a week may be at risk
• Policy shift comes after lawsuit over teens death linked to chatbot
• OpenAI weighs policy change on suicide risk

The company behind ChatGPT could start contacting authorities when young people discuss suicide in conversations with the chatbot, co-founder Sam Altman has said.

In an interview this week, Altman raised fears that as many as 1,500 people globally may be talking about taking their own lives with ChatGPT each week before going on to do so. He admitted the policy change was not yet final but called it very reasonable to alert authorities in cases involving minors where parents could not be reached.

Altmans comments came during a podcast interview with Tucker Carlson, days after he and OpenAI were sued by the family of 16-year-old Adam Raine from California, according to The Guardian.

The lawsuit alleges ChatGPT encouraged the teenager over several months, advising him on whether his chosen method would work and helping him draft a farewell note. Raine died by suicide in April.

Balancing privacy with safety

Altman acknowledged the proposed move would mark a major shift in policy for the San Francisco-based firm, which has more than 700 million global users. User privacy is really important, he said, noting that ChatGPT currently only urges people expressing suicidal thoughts to contact hotlines.

He added it was unclear which authorities could be notified, or what user information OpenAI might share to help locate someone at risk.

Stronger safeguards for teens

Following one highly publicized death, OpenAI said it would introduce parental controls and tougher guardrails around sensitive content and risky behaviours for under-18s.

Altman also suggested restricting people in fragile mental states from gaming the system by pretending they are asking suicide-related questions for research or creative writing. We should say, even if youre trying to write the story or even if youre trying to do medical research, were just not going to answer, he said.

A global crisis

Altman cited figures suggesting 15,000 people die by suicide every week worldwide, which would equate to around 1,500 ChatGPT users based on its share of global population. The World Health Organization estimates more than 720,000 people take their own lives each year.

A spokesperson for OpenAI pointed to recent pledges to improve one-click access to emergency services and connect users to certified therapists before a crisis point.

If you need immediate support:

• US: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org

• UK & Ireland: Samaritans, 116 123 (freephone), jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie

• US: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org

• Australia: Lifeline, 13 11 14

• International: befrienders.org

But the increase was mostly in line with expectations

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Inflation picked up in August: Consumer prices rose 0.4% over the month, driven by shelter, food, and gasoline.

• Annual inflation at 2.9%: Prices are now up nearly 3% over the past year, slightly higher than Julys 2.7%.

• Food and shelter costs lead gains: Food prices climbed 0.5% in August, while shelter rose 0.4%, making them the biggest contributors.
  

Inflation ticked higher in August, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising 0.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That marks an acceleration from Julys 0.2% increase, pushing annual inflation to 2.9%.

Shelter costs, one of the largest components of household budgets, rose 0.4% in August, making them the single biggest factor behind the monthly increase. Food prices climbed 0.5%, led by a 0.6% jump in grocery costs.

Fruits and vegetables surged 1.6%, with big spikes in tomatoes (+4.5%) and apples (+3.5%). Meat, poultry, fish, and eggs were also higher, up 1.0%.

Restaurant and dining prices rose at a slower pace, with food away from home rising 0.3%.

Energy prices edge higher

Energy prices, which have been volatile in recent months, increased 0.7% in August after falling in July. Gasoline prices rose 1.9% during the month, though they remain down 6.6% from a year earlier.

Electricity costs climbed 0.2%, while natural gas prices fell 1.6%. On a 12-month basis, energy overall is up just 0.2%, masking big differences between categories: natural gas surged 13.8% year-over-year, while gasoline declined.

Excluding food and energy, so-called core inflation rose 0.3% in August, matching Julys pace. Over the past 12 months, core inflation has stood at 3.1%.

Categories with the strongest price gains included airline fares (+5.9%), used cars and trucks (+1.0%), and apparel (+0.5%).

Medical care costs eased slightly, down 0.2% on the month, with declines in dental services and prescription drugs.

The annual 2.9% rate remains above the Federal Reserves 2% inflation target, though well below the peak levels seen earlier in the decade. Persistent housing costs and renewed energy price pressures may complicate the Feds efforts to steer inflation back toward its goal.

58% of Gen Z and 54% of millennials have increased their savings in 2025

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Six in 10 Gen Zers (58%) have increased their savings since the start of the year, and 69% made sacrifices to save in Q2.

• More consumers are considering using CDs to grow savings. This interest is highest among Gen Z, but their limited familiarity with these accounts may prevent utilization.

• A majority of consumers (63%) see digital banking options as offering more competitive rates to help them grow their savings.

A new survey from Santander Bank shows that younger Americans are outpacing older generations when it comes to building their savings in 2025, with Gen Z and Millennials leading the charge.

According to the latest Openbank Growing Personal Savings (GPS) Tracker, 58% of Gen Zers and 54% of millennials have increased their savings since the start of the year. By comparison, 47% of Gen X and 39% of baby boomers reported boosting their savings.

The report suggests that younger consumers are particularly focused on their financial futures. A strong majority of Gen Z (81%) and millennials (79%) said that saving money is a top priority for them in 2025. To achieve that goal, 69% of Gen Zers and 62% of millennials have made lifestyle trade-offs in the past three months, cutting back on expenses in order to put more money aside.

Its encouraging to see younger consumers embracing the importance of saving, said Swati Bhatia, head of Retail Banking & Transformation for Santander Bank. They are showing real determination as they find ways to cut spending and build savings, even in a challenging environment. These savers now have an opportunity to grow their savings further by using high-yield savings accounts and CDs that are currently offering meaningful interest rates.

Missing out on higher yields

Despite the focus on saving, many Americans arent maximizing their returns. The survey found that 43% keep their savings in traditional savings accounts and 31% use checking accounts, both of which typically earn little to no interest. Among Gen Z savers who know their accounts interest rate, only 38% are earning a competitive yield, defined as at least 3.00% annual percentage yield (APY).

One bright spot is that certificates of deposit (CDs) are gaining traction, particularly among younger savers. While just 8% of Gen Z currently own a CD, nearly three-quarters (74%) expressed interest in opening one before potential Federal Reserve rate cuts later this year.

The survey also highlights the importance of choosing the right banking partner. Eighty-two percent of consumers said that working with the right financial provider is crucial to meeting their savings goals. Many view digital banks as offering more attractive rates, and over 80% said they would consider a digital bank as their primary provider.

Physical locations still matter

At the same time, physical bank branches still matter 70% of consumers reported they would feel more confident in a digital bank if it also had brick-and-mortar locations.

Consumers are telling us they want the best of both worlds competitive digital offerings paired with the confidence that comes from the backing of a financially strong bank with a physical presence, Bhatia said. As we expand into a full-service digital bank with branches, were focused on delivering strong savings and lending solutions, seamless digital experiences, and outstanding customer service that matter to consumers as they strive to reach their financial goals.

The GPS Tracker also found that setting goals and sticking to budgets makes a big difference. Nearly half (48%) of consumers who hit their savings targets did so by cutting discretionary spending, while 41% credited consistent budgeting, and 24% used automatic transfers to move money directly into savings.

Overall, 70% of consumers with high-yield savings accounts or CDs increased their savings in 2025, compared to just 38% of those without such accounts.