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Cash App is convenient and fast. But is it safe? Not always. Here are the latest Cash App scams to be aware of and how to protect yourself from scammers.
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Janeiro Starks had safely used the Cash App platform for three years, but that all changed when his $21,000 insurance check was stuck as “pending” in his account [*].
First, Starks contacted Cash App via email, but they needed time to investigate the transaction. So, in a rush to receive his money, he Googled “Cash App support” and was taken to a legitimate looking website, complete with the Cash App logo.
He called the phone number listed on the site, and the support rep asked for his login PIN to “fix” the problem. But as soon as he hung up, the money disappeared from his account.
Starks was the victim of a Cash App scam. And unfortunately, he’s not the only one.
Scammers have flocked to Cash App because they know they can take advantage of its speed, anonymity, and confusion for users about how payment apps work.
If you want to use Cash App safely, you must understand how these scams work, what to look out for, and how to keep your account safe.
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Yes, the Cash App platform is safe.
Cash App uses the latest fraud detection technology, machine learning, and cutting-edge encryption to secure your money and data. When you initiate a transfer, your information is encrypted, and you’re secured by Cash App’s vulnerability management suite that protects you from scammers.
But what about human factors that machines can’t defend against?
Money transfer apps are quick and convenient ways to pay friends and family or split bills. But there’s a huge danger that not everyone knows about: Once you send money via Cash App, there’s almost no way to get it back.
Sending money on Cash App (or similar mobile payment apps like Zelle and Venmo) is like physically handing someone cash.
Your money isn’t FDIC insured, like it would be in your bank account. So, if you get scammed on Cash App, you have no protection or recourse to reclaim your money. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) only 3.7% of people scammed on Cash App were able to recover their funds [*].
Fraudsters prey on this human element to scam millions of users. A scammer might trick you into giving up your Cash App login details, fool you into thinking you’ve won a prize, or entice you into sharing financial information needed to invest in a “guaranteed” investment.
Scammers are coming up with new potential Cash App scams every day. So, what schemes should you be on the lookout for?
Here are in-depth details about these Cash App scams and how to spot them before you get scammed.
Phishing occurs when fraudsters pose as legitimate people, organizations, or websites with the goal of stealing your personal information. Most phishing attacks happen via email, but you can also receive fake text messages (smishing), phone calls (vishing), or even end up on phishing websites (pharming).
Cash App scammers send emails using the Cash App logo and a similar-looking email address to try and trick you into “verifying” your Cash App account information and password. Or, they might try to get you to click on a link that will take you to a phishing site that steals your information.
According to the FBI, phishing was the most common online threat in 2020, with over 241,342 victims [*].
If you receive a suspicious email, text, call, or social media message, report it to Cash App through the app or at https://cash.app/help.
Remember, there is only one Cash App customer support phone number: 1-800-969-1940. It’s an automated line that redirects you to get support inside the app. If someone asks you to call a different number — or if you call and someone answers claiming to work for Cash App — it’s a scam.
Cash flipping refers to scammers offering to “flip” your money with a promise of guaranteed higher returns.
Scammers reach out to Cash App users on social media platforms (such as Twitter or Instagram) and promote get-rich-quick schemes. For example, a fraudster will post screenshots of fake cash alerts from “happy investors” to lure unsuspecting victims.
They’ll often start small — promising to turn $200 into $1,000 — and offer a “money-back guarantee” if you’re not happy. Sometimes, they’ll flip a small amount to gain your trust before scamming you out of larger amounts.
“Cash flipping” scammers use Cash App because the money is transferred instantly and can’t be returned. Any money you send will disappear, along with the scammer.
Treat your money on Cash App like real cash. If you wouldn’t give a random person on the street your money to flip, don’t do it online.
📚 Related: What To Do If You’ve Been Scammed Online & How To Report It →
Tech support scams are among the most common tactics that fraudsters use to scam Cash App users.
In this scheme, criminals pretend to be Cash App customer service representatives and reach out to you about your account balance or “security issues.”
They’ll often contact you on social media after you post about an issue with Cash App. In other cases, they might call, send text messages, email you, or set up fake websites displaying phone numbers to call for support.
In one example, Wade Hankins — a landlord in Raleigh who used Cash App to collect rent payments — lost $24,000 after scammers called him and offered to “help” him move the funds to his bank account [*].
In 2021 alone, scammers stole over $1 billion in cryptocurrency, using investment scams and other schemes [*].
Fraudsters post videos and messages on social media showing fake testimonials from people who supposedly earned huge returns from their crypto investments. If you respond, they’ll ask you to transfer money or Bitcoin via Cash App to “fund” your account.
This exact scam happened to Joseph Thompson. After watching a Facebook video posted by his son’s friend that touted huge returns on a Bitcoin investment, Thompson sent his own coins to a Cash App link. He also provided his driver’s license and Facebook password to “verify” his identity [*].
But scammers had hijacked his son’s friend’s account. Not only did he lose his “investment” — but the scammers also took over Thompson’s Facebook account and scammed his close friends and relatives out of thousands of dollars.
📚 Related: How To Tell If Someone is Scamming You Online →
The Cash App team does give away free money, Bitcoin, or stocks on “Cash App Fridays” via social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter. All you have to do is reply with your Cash App “$cashtag” for a chance to win.
However, scammers use fake accounts to hijack the hashtag and then message people who reply in the original Cash App thread. They’ll claim that you “won” but need to DM them your financial information to collect your prize.
Beware of other sweepstakes and “free money” scams. Scammers may send a message saying you’ve won a prize or that you’re entitled to owed money. However, you need to send a small amount of money via Cash App to claim your win.
Cash App does not require users to send money for any reason, and it’s not possible to claim cash prizes on Cash App by sending money.
Cash app is meant to be used for transactions with people you know — like friends and family. But many users also send and receive payments for goods and services that they sell or buy online.
In the fake payment notification scam, fraudsters will reach out about an item you have for sale on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. They’ll ask to pay for it via Cash App, and then send you an email saying that there’s money in your account.
But when you check your Cash App account, there’s nothing there.
The whole thing is a fraud. But if you try to call out the scammer, they’ll claim you’re the one trying to scam them and then press you to “refund” them the money they sent.
📚 Related: How To Tell If an Email Is From a Scammer [With Examples] →
In this scheme, scammers deposit money in your Cash App account “by accident” or as part of a plan to gain your trust during a social engineering scam.
Scammers might use the deposit as a way to lure you into conversation (which can lead to other scams). Or, they might claim it was a mistake and ask you to refund them the amount they sent. However, they most likely used stolen credit card numbers to fund their account.
If you send them a “refund” and the person whose credit card was stolen files a fraud claim, you’ll lose that money.
Scammers prey on fear to get you to give up your login information and passwords.
In this scam, fraudsters send you a fake security alert claiming your Cash App account was compromised in a data breach.
They’ll include a link to a website that asks you to change your Cash App login credentials [*]. But they’ll use any account information that you share with them to empty your account.
📚 Related: How To Tell If You've Been Hacked (and What To Do About It) →
Fraudsters commonly sell expensive items online and ask for payment via Cash App. Scammers know that Cash App doesn’t offer buyer protection. So, if they can convince you to pay for fake items through the platform, you have no way to get your money back.
In many cases, these items will either be hard-to-find (like fake tickets to a sold-out concert) or a too-good-to-be-true deal (like discounted luxury items).
Some of the most common online shopping Cash App scams include:
Americans spent $123.6 billion on pets in 2021 [*]. Unfortunately, the BBB claims that it’s nearly impossible to search online for puppies or pets without encountering scammers [*].
The most common pet scam entails fraudsters requesting a deposit for a puppy or other pet via Cash App. They’ll then send fake photos of cute newborn pets to hook you into a sale. The pets are usually highly sought-after purebred animals available at low prices.
Home rental scammers use sites like Zillow and Apartments.com to advertise fake rental properties. They offer apartments at prices lower than the market rate, and then ask for a deposit using Cash App (or similar) to “secure” the property.
These scams usually happen online only. But there have been situations in which scammers “show” a home in person and even collect deposits for homes that aren’t actually for rent.
📚 Related: The 7 Latest Geek Squad Scams (and How To Avoid Them) →
The COVID-19 pandemic has led many people to start using contactless payment solutions like Cash App. Unfortunately, since the start of the pandemic, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has received over 750,000 complaints related to Coronavirus scams [*].
One of the more common scams involves fake grants and relief programs. Scammers will create fake websites, or send phishing emails that claim to offer support — but you have to pay a “fee” via Cash App in order to get the service.
📚 Related: The 17 Latest Covid Scams To Be Aware Of (2022) →
Cash App scammers don’t just want your money — they want your sensitive information, too. With your Social Security number (SSN), a scammer can commit identity theft or even open new bank accounts or credit cards in your name.
In 2021 alone, Americans lost $12 million to SSN scams, according to the FTC [*].
One way scammers try to get your SSN is to call you and claim that your Social Security benefits are going to be canceled, or that your card needs to be updated. They’ll use threatening language to get you to “confirm” your SSN and then request payment via Cash App for the service.
📚 Related: 12 Awful Senior Citizen Scams: How To Prevent Elder Fraud →
Cash App users can get physical debit cards to access their funds. But scammers have also started to send unsolicited Cash App debit cards through the mail with instructions to download the app and scan a QR code to set it up.
In reality, scammers have used your stolen information (name, SSN, address, etc.) to open a Cash App account in your name. But they have the account login information. So, once you fund the account, they’ll just transfer the money to themselves.
How did criminals get access to your sensitive information, such as your SSN? In the past few years, hackers have stolen and released billions of pieces of personal information on the Dark Web through hacking and data breaches. A valid U.S. Social Security number costs as little as $5 on the Dark Web [*].
Scammers love gift cards because they’re impossible to trace. In this scam, you get a notification that you’ve won “free money” on Cash App — you just need to send the scammer a gift card in order to claim your money.
Scammers may also pretend to be from the IRS or FBI, and threaten you with jail time or fines if you don’t send them gift cards.
According to the FTC, gift cards are the number one payment method for scammers — leading to $148 million in losses for consumers [*].
Romance scams occur when fraudsters create fake accounts on dating sites and social media platforms (such as Instagram, Tinder, or Hinge) and then build relationships with victims.
Once they’ve gained their victims’ trust, scammers will invent some type of emergency and ask for money via Cash App, wire transfer, or other methods that can’t be reversed. For example, they might claim to be in legal trouble or not have access to their bank account because they are overseas. But it’s all a lie, and any money you send them will be lost.
In 2021, over 24,000 Americans were tricked by romance scams, with scammers stealing over $1 billion [*].
📚 Related: The Unexpected Dangers of Online Dating [11 Scams To Know] →
If you’ve been scammed on Cash App or if you sent money to the wrong person, here’s how to try and get your money back:
You can dispute a Cash App transaction when:
Cash App will cancel a potentially fraudulent transaction to prevent charges on your account. Your funds are instantly returned to your linked bank account or Cash App balance and should be available within one to three business days.
However, if you’ve been scammed, there are no guarantees for a refund. Because Cash App is a peer-to-peer transfer platform, your best option for a refund is to contact the receiving party or cancel the payment before it’s finalized.
Meanwhile, you can file a dispute for the transaction with your bank if you’ve linked your Cash App account to a debit card or credit card.
Legitimate cash app representatives will never ask for your details via social media, phone, or any other channels.
No. Cash App scammers need more than your name or Cash App “$Cashtag” to hack your account.
They’ll also need access to your Cash App PIN, phone number, and email address. However, cybercriminals can hack your email address using phishing attacks and then use it to gain access to your Cash App account.
Scammers love new technologies and services because they can easily take advantage of inaccurate user assumptions and confusion. But Cash App is an efficient and safe tool to use — if you’re smart.
Keep an eye out for these common Cash App scams. And for added protection of your accounts, money, data, and devices, consider signing up for Aura’s all-in-one digital security solution.
Aura keeps you and your family safe online. And if the worst should happen, you’re covered by a $1,000,000 insurance policy for eligible losses due to identity theft.
Editorial note: Our articles provide educational information for you to increase awareness about digital safety. Aura’s services may not provide the exact features we write about, nor may cover or protect against every type of crime, fraud, or threat discussed in our articles. Please review our Terms during enrollment or setup for more information. Remember that no one can prevent all identity theft or cybercrime.