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Cash App has significantly transformed the way people handle finances. Millions of users rely on it to send money to each other for a variety of reasons, fromsplitting restaurant bills to paying for their share of rent. However, this increased convenience comes with potential risks.
If you use the app, there are some common Cash App scams that you should be aware of. By knowing the details, you can spot them and avoid them. These are some of those Cash App scams, along with tips on staying safe and secure when using the platform.
13 Cash App Scams To Know in 2024
Luckily, most of the common Cash App scams are easily avoided when you know what to look for. Here’s a look at 13 common Cash App scams for 2024:
- Accidental cash transfers
- Investment scams
- Fake contests
- Cash flipping
- Fraudulent payment claims
- Pet sale scams
- Rental scams
- Giveaway scams
- Impersonating customer service
- Phishing attempts
- Transaction dispute scams
- Free money and rewards scams
- Catfishing scams
1. Accidental Cash Transfers
One common scam involves deceptive payments. A scammer may “accidentally” transfer money to you and then ask for it back, plus an extra transfer fee they’ll claim they had to pay. Always report these demands for reimbursem*nt to Cash App, especially if they come from outside of the app. Never return money or cover “transaction fees” for strangers. If you do need to refund someone, use the “refund” function from within the app.
2. Investment Scams
This is another “too good to be true” scam. A would-be conmanpretending to be an investment or financial advisor may contact you about big returns if you invest in their company or buy a certain stock through “private” channels using Cash App. Of course, these aren’t legitimate business offers, and the only person seeing a “return” is the scammer who takes off with your money. Stick to legitimate investment platforms and steer clear of any unsolicited investment offers on Cash App, especially those promising immediate or assured returns.
3. Fake Contests
A lot of scammers will try to capitalize on people’s love of discounted or free items. This scam works by stagingfake online deals or giveaways that you’ll have to “verify” with your Cash App credentials to access. Once the scammer has these details, they can use them to drain whatever funds you might have in the account. Never sign up for an offer or promotion that’s sent through a text message or email you don’t recognize or expect.
4. Cash Flipping
Money flipping is when scammers convince you to send them money, promising to increase the funds through investments or other means. These scammers may ask you to send a small amount as a “clearance fee” or for “account verification.” You send the money and never get anything in return.
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5. Fraudulent Payment Claims
Another Cash App scam to watch for is a fraudulent payment claim. Scammers will inform youthat you’ve won money or are due a payment. However, like cash flipping, you must pay to collect the money. The scammers take your payment and disappear.
6. Pet Sale Scams
Cash App scams on Facebook and other social media platforms are common since these apps provide a large pool of potential victims. One such scam is the pet sale scam. A scammer pretends to have an upcoming litter of dogs or cats. The asking price is often quite attractive, as are the many photos of the cute puppies or kittens. You can claim your non-existent pet by sending a deposit to the scammer via Cash App,but you never receive your furry friend.
7. Rental Scams
Rental scams are similar to pet sale scams. The scammer promises to find you an apartment for far less than the current going rate if you simply send them a deposit. However, the scammer never provides the service and you lose the deposit.
8. Giveaway Scams
Cash App sometimes gives away money to lucky winners on X, formerly Twitter. Scammers set up fake Cash App giveaways using hashtags like #CashAppGiveaway or #CashAppFriday to trick users into thinking they’ve entered and won a legitimate Cash App giveaway. The scammer may ask you to verify your account by providing your sign-in code or PIN or by sending a “test” payment so you can collect your fake prize.
Remember: Cash App will never ask you for sensitive information. If it does, you’re probably dealing with a scam.
9. Impersonating Customer Service
Another common scam involves counterfeit customer support. Scammers may try to impersonate Cash App staff via phone call, text message, or email and request your login details or PIN to resolve some issue with your account (they even sometimes claim to be stopping fraud). This is a red flag that makes it easy to spot a scam.
A Cash App representative will never ask you to:
- Provide your Cash App sign-in code
- Send a payment to a Cash App account
- Provide personal information, such as your Social Security number, debit card number or bank account information
If you need to talk to someone from Cash App to clear up one of these scam attempts, you can always reach out through the official methods displayed on their website or in their app.
10. Phishing Attempts
Phishing scams are fairly frequent on Cash App. Scammers may send phony emails or texts pretending to be an automated Cash App message. The message will instruct you to click a link to verify or access your account. But, the only thing these links are likely to access are your login details or credit card information, which the scammer will then use to commit fraud or identity theft.
Never trust unsolicited messages containing links. Always access Cash App directly through the app or the official website, and never through links in messages or emails.
11. Transaction Dispute Scams
Some scammers claim they can teach you how to file legitimate disputes with Cash App and receive free refunds — for a fee, of course. The terms “method,” “dispute” and “refunds” are often used by scammers advertising this fake service.
12. Free Money and Rewards Scams
Another “teaching” scam involves a fraudster requesting a fee to show you how to manipulate a Cash App “glitch” that will allow you to get free money. They mightalso offer to teach you how to earn significant cash rewards with the app or earn through a fake referral bonus program.
13. Catfishing Scams
Catfishers create fake social media and dating profiles to start online relationships with unsuspecting victims. Peer-to-peer apps, like Cash App, have made it easy for catfishers toseparate victims from their money. The catfisher romances the victim online and then banks on the victim’s love to fulfill their requests for money to cover an “emergency” or even book a trip for a face-to-face visit that never happens.
How To Avoid Cash App Scams
For most Cash App scams, fraudsters rely on a victim’s willingness to send money to a stranger or a failure to confirm they are communicating with a legitimate Cash App representative. You can protect yourself from most scams by avoiding transactions with people you don’t know and trust and only using Cash App’s recommended communication methods to get support.
When in doubt, make sure you follow these 10 safety tips:
- Usestrong, unpredictable passwords.
- Activate two-factor authentication. Logging in might take an extra step, but no one will be able to access your account without first receiving the authentication code sent after every login attempt.
- Only share your Cash App username or tag with people you trust and have met in person.
- Carefully check the recipient’s details to avoid sending money to the wrong person.
- If you receive an email or text claiming to be from Cash App, contact Cash App customer support directly rather than responding to or clicking links in the text or email.
- Don’t prepay for products or services.
- Don’t use Cash App for rental or pet deposits.
- Be wary of prices or investment opportunities that are too good to be true.
- Turn on notifications to receive a text or email whenever a payment is made with your account.
- If you come across activities you think might be suspicious, report them immediately to Cash App.
If You Got Scammed on Cash App, What Do You Do?
If you think you’ve fallen victim to a Cash App scam, Cash App recommends first changing your Cash App PIN. Then, report the possible fraud to Cash App. Note that reporting a fraudulent transaction won’t guarantee you’ll get a Cash App scam refund.
How To Report a Fraudulent Transaction:
To report a fraudulent Cash App transaction:
- Tap the profile icon on the Cash App home screen.
- Tap “Support.”
- Tap “Report a Payment Issue.”
- Select the scam payment.
- Follow the prompts.
How To Block a Scam Account:
To report and block a Cash App account you suspect may be a scam account:
- Open the scam profile in Cash App.
- You can search via their name, $Cashtag, phone number or email address.
- Scroll to the bottom of the profile.
- Tap “Report” or “Block.”
- Follow the prompts once you’ve selected one of the options.
Cash App Customer Support
You can contact Cash App Support through the app or by phone at 1-800-969-1940.
If you choose to contact Cash App on social media, ensure you’re messaging one of the following official, verified Cash App social media accounts:
- Instagram: @CashApp or @CashByCashapp
- X, formerly Twitter: @CashApp, @CashSupport or @CashAppStudios
- Tiktok: @CashApp
- Twitch: twitch.tv/CashApp
- Reddit: u/CashAppAndi
- Facebook: SquareCash
Final Take
You can safely use Cash App without worrying about falling victim to a scam if you take the necessary steps to secure your Cash App account and only transact with people you know and trust.Staying up-to-date on new ways scammers are trying to dupe people through payment apps will also help you identify and avoid their tactics.
FAQ
Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about scams on Cash App.
- Will Cash App refund money if scammed?
- Unfortunately, Cash App will almost never refund payments. Transactions between Cash App users happen instantaneously and normally can't be withdrawn. You should only send or accept money from people you know. Unsolicited transactions are, at best, a mistake and, at worst, the beginning of a scam attempt.
- Can I dispute a Cash App purchase that I paid in advance?
- You can dispute a Cash App Cash Card* purchase, but it doesn't guarantee you'll get your money back. Since most payments are instant, they can't be canceled.
- How can I report a scammer on Cash App?
- To report possible fraudulent activity you see on Cash App, follow these steps:
- Click your profile icon, located in the upper right corner.
- Select "Support"
- Choose "Report a Payment Issue"
- Pick the payment in question and follow the prompts.
- To report possible fraudulent activity you see on Cash App, follow these steps:
- How can I contact Cash App Customer Support?
- The best way to contact someone is directly through the app. Click on the profile icon on your app's home screen, choose "Support," and then look for "Contact Cash App Support" for a list of ways to contact official Cash App support personnel. You can also reach Cash App's support team by phone at 1-800-969-1940.
- Can I dispute a purchase if I've already sent money?
- Cash App is a platform for instant, peer-to-peer payments, and as such, doesn't have the same kind of protection as credit cards or other forms of payment. There's no way to dispute a payment on Cash App after you've made one.
- The best way to avoid this is to never pay someone you don't trust for something they promise to deliver at a future date. If you've used Cash App's Cash App Card, you may have more options at your disposal, and you can try to report a problem with the transaction from the appropriate place in the app.
- Why would Cash App's support team request my account information?
- The only time anyone from Cash App's support team will request details will be to help you with an issue after you've contacted them. If you're contacted by someone claiming to be from Cash App, it could be a scam. Never reply to such a request; instead, contact support through the app.
- Cash App will never ask you for sensitive information, such as your login code, PIN, or bank account details. Likewise, Cash App will never require you to make a payment or a purchase, download a "remote access" app or make any kind of test transaction. If someone requests these things from you, report it to Cash App Support.
- Does Cash App ever give away free money?
- Yes, Cash App gives away free money through periodic sweepstakes via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, @CashApp. Winnings are sent from a verified Cash App account displaying a yellow checkmark. Cash App giveaways never require you to provide your PIN or sign-in code.
- What if a random person wants to send me money on Cash App?
- If a random person asks to send you money on Cash App, it's likely a scam. If you receive an unexpected Cash App payment from a stranger, you should refund the payment rather than sending a payment to the person.
- Is it safe to send money to strangers on Cash App?
- Cash App recommends only sending money to people you know and trust since payments are instant and typically can't be canceled.
- How can you tell if someone is scamming you on Cash App?
- Common signs of a Cash App scam include:
- Too-good-to-be-true opportunities.
- The requirement of an upfront payment.
- A request for your Cash App sign-in code, PIN or personal information.
- Common signs of a Cash App scam include:
Andrea Norris, Caitlyn Moorhead and Joshua Rodriguez contributed to the reporting for this article.
*Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.
Our in-house research team and on-site financial experts work together to create content that’s accurate, impartial, and up to date. We fact-check every single statistic, quote and fact using trusted primary resources to make sure the information we provide is correct. You can learn more about GOBankingRates’ processes and standards in our editorial policy.
- Blackhawk Bank. "Cash App Scams and Fraud Are On Increasing Be Careful."
- Cash App. "How To Avoid Scams and Keep Your Money Safe with Cash App."
- AARP. "Avoid Pet Scams and Safely Purchase Animals Online."
- Parade. 2022. "10 Terrible Cash App Scams to Know About So You Don't Get Ripped Off."
- Android Authority. 2023. "A random person sent me money on cash app: What should I do?"
- Security.org. 2023. "Is Cash App Safe?"
- FBI. 2022. "FBI Las Vegas Federal Fact Friday: Social Media Money Flipping Scam."
