Got scammed on Cash App? Read on to know what you can do to get your money back.
Cash App is a popular person-to-person (P2P) payment service that allows people to make money transfers and invest money safely and conveniently.
It is also worth mentioning that scams through P2P payment services have increased year over year. In fact, over 2.8 million consumers reported being scammed last year through imposter scams, prizes, and sweepstakes, according to a press release from the Federal Trade Commission.
If you've been using Cash App for some time now, you should be aware most scam techniques, such as imposter scams, prizes, and sweepstakes are popular among scammers—where the con artists typically propose cash flipping, pass themselves for sugar daddies, claim to host sweepstakes for which the winner will get a prize.
If you got scammed on Cash App through any of these scams or something else and are wondering what you can do to get your money back, you've come to the right place.
To help you out, we've compiled some steps to take if you get scammed on Cash App. But before heading to that, let's talk about the different types of Cash App scams so you can easily identify which one you fell prey to.
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I Got Scammed On Cash App What Do I Do?
Cash App scams are not uncommon nowadays, and no one is always safe from scam attempts whether you follow the best practices to secure your Cash App account or not, since all payments on Cash App are usually instant.
Following that, it can be very frustrating to get scammed on Cash App, especially if you're losing a considerable amount of money and financial information for the very first time.
However, the good news is, there's always a solution to every problem.
If you got scammed on Cash App, I'll recommend taking any of the steps below as early as you realize you've fallen into a Cash App scam.
1. Cancel The Fraudulent Payment
Cash App payments are usually instant, and most often, can't be canceled.
However, some payments made through the platform usually feature a cancel handle next to the transaction in the activity feed.
If the fraudulent payment displays a cancel handle, then, there's a chance to cancel the payment and get your money back.
To do so:
- Open the Cash App on your phone.
- Go to the Activity feed by tapping the clock-like icon.
- Locate the transaction you believe is fraudulent.
- Tap the fraudulent transaction.
- Tap "Cancel" if displayed to cancel the fraudulent payment.
2. Dispute The Transaction
Disputing a transaction is the best way to get your money back from a fraudulent merchant wjo did not provide a service or item as described, or does not want to provide you with the item you purchased.
Thankfully, Cash App makes it easy to dispute any transaction made with any merchant, so none of the two parties will lose in the transaction.
To file a dispute on Cash App:
- Open Cash App on your phone.
- Tap the Activity tab on your Cash App home screen.
- Select the transaction in question and tap the … in the top right corner of the screen.
- Select "Need Help & Cash App Support."
- Tap "Dispute this Transaction."
3. Report The Scam To Cash App's Support
Contacting Cash App support is always the first thing that comes to our mind whenever we face a challenge within the Cash App.
Ideally, reporting a payment scam to Cash App support is a major step to take if you get scammed through a Cash App payment.
While Cash App doesn't guarantee a refund for scams, it is always a great idea to contact them, as they can help to further the issue with your financial institution.
To report a payment scam on Cash App:
- Open Cash App on your phone.
- Tap the profile icon in the top right corner.
- Tap "Support."
- Select "Report a Payment Issue."
- Select the fraudulent payment and follow the prompts.
Cash App recommends reporting and blocking scam account if it is associated with the scam.
To do so:
- Open Cash App on your phone.
- Tap on a Customer Avatar to view a profile. You can also search for a profile by entering a Name, $Cashtag, Phone Number, or Email.
- Scroll to the bottom of the profile and tap on "Report" or "Block."
- Select one of the options and follow the next steps.
If you need to talk to a representative directly, you can contact Cash App support through a phone call at 1 (800) 969-1940 and explain the issue to them.
Hopefully, they'll help you get your money back on Cash App if scammed.
4. Contact Your Financial Institution
If contacting Cash App support didn't really help in getting your money back, I'll recommend reaching out to your financial institution.
Your bank authorizes all transactions from your account, and if you bank at a reputable US bank that's FDIC secure, there's a great chance you'll be able to get your money back if you report the issue to them in time.
5. Report The Fraud To The Government
No scam passes unnoticed nowadays. Government agencies are there to ensure that, as they keep consumers aware of the dangers they are exposed to when using digital payment apps, through reports they receive from victims of scams.
Following that, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) allow consumers to report any scam attempt they've been victimized by through the Internet.
They'll provide you with steps to take to protect yourself and help stop fraud.
Common Cash App Scams
Cash App is a popular payment service in the market, which people use for making numerous money transfers every day.
This has made the financial giant one of the top choices for scammers who are constantly on the lookout for new victims.
Since scammers won't stand a chance if they come directly to you, they use different scam techniques to get money from you willingly or unwillingly.
The most common Cash App scams include:
1. Cash Flipping and Clearance Fee Scams
Cash Flipping is arguably the most popular scam used by con artists to scam people on the platform.
This scam usually targets the newcomers, since most of them don't know much about the platform and are kind of excited about getting the most out of what Cash App has to offer.
In this scam, the scammer typically proposes to multiply or "flip" your money if you first send them money.
One of the techniques they use to convince users to send them money is the "sugar daddy scam", where the scammer proposes to clear off their sugar babies' credit card debts on the condition they send them money first.
The scammer will accept your money and the sad part is, they won't resend you anything. Instead, they'll block you and move to getting their next victim.
Never send money to someone on Cash App that you don't know or trust.
2. Payment Claiming Scam
Another popular scam on Cash App is the payment payment claiming scam.
Here, the scammer will reach out to you that you have to claim an upcoming or pending payment and that the only way to receive the payment is by sending them some money first.
I'd like to emphasize once more that always deal with people you know and trust on Cash App. If someone that you don't know promises you free money on Cash App, it is probably a scam attempt.
3. Puppy/Pet Deposit Scam
Another popular scam on the platform is the puppy deposit scam.
In this scenario, the scammer typically claims to have an upcoming litter and only accepts pre-orders where interested people would have to deposit funds in their accounts in order to secure one of the puppies.
They claim to sell purebred, highly sought-after animals at an extremely low price.
The funniest part is, that they won't accept to communicate over the phone, but they'll keep on posting photos of the puppies to get your attention.
To easily identify this scam attempt, all you need to do is tell the person that you're willing to send them money only if you can meet them and see proof of their work.
Again, only send them money if you know you can trust them for the transaction. However, I'll recommend looking for a nearby puppy shop or supply and getting the puppy you want.
4. Home Rental Deposit Scam
The home rental deposit scam is another common scam technique used by most con artists on Cash App.
The scammer will promise to find an affordable apartment for you, but they'll require you to send some sort of advancement before they can let you visit the prospective rental.
Gosh! You shouldn't even fall for such Cash App scams, since there are reliable services for finding an appropriate home or apartment to your taste.
5. Mistaken or Accidental Payment Received Scam
This scam is usually a gain-for-gain business for con artists using the technique.
In this scenario, a random person will send you money, then contact you saying the payment was "accidental" and will ask you to resend them the money back.
If the random person is a scammer, and you send them the money back, they'll receive it and still will dispute the transaction with their financial institution once they receive funds from you.
If their request goes through, their financial institution will reach out to Cash App, which will deduct the amount they sent to you and refund it to the scammer's account.
So the scammer will not only receive money from you, but they'll also receive it from their bank or credit card.
This shows how it is never safe to receive money from strangers on Cash App, and recommended to deal only with those you know and trust.
Requesting money from strangers on Cash App isn't always a best practice since you can easily fall prey to a more sophisticated scam.
If you're experiencing this type of scam, I recommend taking to following steps:
- Refund the payment to the sender but do not create a new payment to send the person the amount.
- Decline payment requests from people you don't know.
- If it happens again, you can block the sender or requester.
How To Recognize And Avoid Cash App Scams
Cash App is a popular platform for most scammers looking to get new victims.
With that said, following the best practices to avoid Cash App scams will help keep your information and finances safe from the eyes of scammers.
To recognize and avoid Cash App scams:
- Do not send money to someone you don't know or trust on the platform.
- Don't send money to someone who promises free money in return or cash flipping.
- 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 (like free money in return, for example).
Will Cash App Refund Money If Scammed?
Cash App does not guarantee refunds for scams through the platform.
However, if you notice a Cash App scam in time, you can always report and/or dispute the transaction to stand a chance for a refund on Cash App.
What Does Cash App Refund Policy Speculate?
Most users are usually curious about what happens to a refund made on Cash App.
Well, whenever a refund is made on Cash App, the money is instantly returned to the sender's Cash App balance if the funds were sent from the sender's Cash App balance or debit card.
The sender will receive the refund amount on their credit card if the funds were sent from a credit card on Cash App.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my money back from Cash App if I was scammed?
Yes, you can get your money back from Cash App if scammed. All you'll need to do is report the payment issue to Cash App support immediately you realize that you're a victim of a scam. However, keep in mind that Cash App does not guarantee refunds for scams on the platform.
What happens if I get scammed on Cash App?
When you get scammed on the Cash App, the scammer will usually block you from reaching them and flee away with your money.
How long does it take for Cash App to refund scammed money?
If you notice and cancel the fraudulent payment in time, you will receive the refund instantly to your Cash App balance, if sent from there. However, keep in mind that not all transactions on the Cash App will feature a cancel handle next to them.
Final Thoughts
Cash App is a popular payment service that allows people to send, receive, and invest money.
While Cash App offers a secure way to complete most financial transactions, it is, however, a top target for scammers looking to steal money from potential victims.
If you got scammed on Cash App, I recommend reporting the issue to Cash App support and your financial institution immediately after you notice you are a victim of the scam.
While Cash App does not guarantee a refund for fraudulent transactions, your bank will surely help in getting your money back.