Avoiding Common Scams with Cash App

Cash App wants you to avoid scams and help keep your funds safe. Remember -- if something sounds too good to be true, it’s likely a scam.

Common Types of Scams

The most common types of scams arrive in your voicemail, inbox or at your home. What scammers do, by and large, is promise you something, take your money, and then never deliver on what they promised. Keep yourself safe by educating yourself on the most common scams today:

Cash Flipping and Clearance Fee Scam

Scammers will claim they can “flip” your money, promising to increase your money if you first send them funds (sometimes they call this a “clearance fee” or “account verification”). These scammers will accept your funds but never send you anything in return. If someone promises you free money in return for sending them a payment, it is a scam. There are no legitimate businesses that are “flipping cash.” They are all likely scammers.

Payment Claiming Scam

Sometimes scammers will ask you to “claim” a payment that you “deserve” by sending money to them. These payment-claiming attempts are always scams. Never send money to a person promising a larger payment in return. As with Cash Flipping, if someone promises you free money in return for sending them a payment, it is likely a scam.

Moreover, Cash App will never request funds from a customer for any reason. There is no such thing as “claiming” a payment by sending money to Cash App.

Puppy/Pet Deposit Scam

Scammers will claim to have an upcoming litter and request a deposit in order to secure one of the puppies or kittens. These scammers usually post fake photos, won’t communicate over the phone, and will offer to sell purebred, highly-sought-after animals at an extremely low price. Since Cash App cannot guarantee a refund if you don't receive what you pay for, it’s safer to send money over Cash App once you meet the buyer in-person and receive whatever has been promised to you.

Don’t send money to someone you don’t know or trust who is promising to deliver you something at a later date. Always verify those to whom you send money and pay them after you receive what you purchased.

Apartment / Home Rental Deposit Scam

Scammers often promise a good or service without providing proof that it actually exists. This includes promising to find you a cheap apartment, or offering an apartment at a much lower rate than normal, but requiring you to send them a deposit first (e.g., before touring the prospective rental).

Never send money to someone you don’t know or trust who is promising to deliver you something at a later date - like an apartment rental. If you can’t verify who someone is or the legitimacy of what they are offering, it’s probably a scam.

Mistaken or Accidental Payment Received Scam

Scammers might send you a payment ‘by accident’ and ask you to send the payment amount back to them. The amount you send them back is from your account funds. These scammers will dispute the payment with their bank or credit card after you’ve sent the funds back. This means they will be reimbursed by both you and their bank.

Never send money to someone you don’t know. Even if it seems to be an accident. Here’s what you can do:

• Refund the payment to the sender but do not create a new payment to send the person the amount. Here’s how to refund a payment
• Decline payment requests from people you don’t know
• If it happens again, you can block the sender or requester
• Take steps to secure your account

Fake Giveaways

Many social accounts have pretended to run an official Cash App giveaway. Some of them may purely be giving away prizes or funds, but claim it is in partnership with Cash App. Hashtags such as #cashappgiveaway or #cashappfriday have been on the rise and are not part of our official partnerships. We will never ask you to send money, your login information, your pin number, download any application for “remote access,” or complete a "test" transaction of any kind to enter a giveaway.

Phishing Attempts

Phishing is an attempt by a fraudulent actor to collect personal and/or financial information through social media, email, phone, or text message. Victims of phishing scams are sometimes directed to enter their information into fake websites posing as real ones.

Verified emails from Cash App will always come from a @cash.app, @square.com, or @squareup.com address. If you have an open brokerage account you may receive emails from [email protected], to learn more check here.

How do I Report Phishing Attempts?

If you receive a suspicious social media message, email, text message, or phone call regarding Cash App, or see a phone number that you believe is illegitimate, please contact support through your app or at cash.app/help to report the incident. Cash App will investigate and take necessary actions.

Best Practices for Avoiding Common Scams

• Turn of notifications & enable Security Lock.

• Keep your information safe. Never provide sensitive information to anyone
• Verify and double-check all recipient information before sending any payment to confirm you are sending money to the correct person
• Check the other person's profile to help determine if it is the correct person
• Don’t send money to someone promising something in the future
• Don't send money to a love interest you haven't met in person

For more information on avoiding scams and common questions about them, visit our article on Recognizing Scams here.