Did You Get Scammed on Cash App? Don’t Panic! Do ThisJacqueline Sanders was in a hurry to activate her new Cash App debit card — so she Googled the phone number for Cash App customer support [*]. When the person she was speaking with told her to download an app called AnyDesk to her phone, Sanders didn’t think twice. But that’s when her world turned upside down. Show
Sanders wasn’t speaking to a real Cash App support representative. Instead, she’d reached a scammer posing as a Cash App employee. The software she had downloaded had given the fraudster total control of her phone. Within minutes, Sanders watched the scammer take over her family’s bank accounts and transfer out all of their savings as Bitcoin. Cash app scamslike these are running rampant. And if you’ve been scammed on Cash App, you need to act quickly. Here’s what to do and how you can try to get your money back from a Cash App scammer. How Do Cash App Scams Work? Can You Get Your Money Back?Cash App offers a quick and convenient way to send and receive money. But that convenience comes with a cost. Unlike your bank account, money sent via Cash App (or other mobile payment apps such as Zelle and Venmo) isn’t FDIC insured. This means that you don’t have access to any buyer protection programs. If you accidentally send money to a scammer or get tricked into giving up access to your Cash App account, it’s essentially like losing a wallet full of cash. Here are just a few of the most common Cash App scams that you should be aware of:
So, what happens if you get scammed on Cash App?According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), only 3.7% of people scammed on Cash App in 2021 were able to recover their funds [*]. But for the best chances of recovering your lost money, there are steps that you can take. How To Get Your Money Back If You Were Scammed on Cash App
If you’ve been scammed on Cash App or if you sent money to the wrong person, here’s what you can do to try and get your money back: 1. Request a refund from the recipientTypically, there are three situations in which you’ll be able to successfully get a refund for the amount you sent:
Because Cash App is a peer-to-peer payment app, you should start by checking in with the recipient to see if they’ll refund you. In a few cases, the “scam” was really a misunderstanding or mistake. If you sent money to the wrong person or want to request a refund, open your Cash App home screen and select the “Activity” tab. Then, find the payment and select “...” in the top right corner. Select “Refund” and then “OK.” This sends a refund request, but the recipient will still have to accept it for you to receive the refund. If they do, you should receive your refund in 1–3 business days. 2. Try to cancel the paymentIf you catch the scam quickly enough, you can try to cancel the transfer. Go to your activity tab and look for the fraudulent payment. If you see the option to “Cancel” it, that means that the scammer hasn’t finalized the transfer. Select “Cancel” immediately, and you should get your money back. 3. Dispute the transaction on Cash AppIf you still can’t get a refund, dispute the transaction with Cash App’s customer service. You can dispute a Cash App transaction when:
Go to your “Activity” tab, find the payment and select “...” Then, click “Need Help & Cash App Support” to contact Cash App support. Next, choose “Dispute this transaction.” The Cash App team will then investigate the dispute and inform you of their decision. 4. File a police reportA police report can be a necessary step if you want to dispute fraudulent transactions or help convince Cash App to refund your lost money. Contact your local law enforcement’s non-emergency line (i.e., not 911) and ask for their fraud department. Explain what happened, and tell them the steps you’ve already taken. They’ll create a file that you can reference when you continue trying to get your money back. 5. Inform your bank of the fraudNext, contact your bank’s fraud department and explain what happened. They may suggest that you close your current bank account (to stop further fraud) and get set up with a new one. You can also file a dispute for the transaction with your bank if you’ve linked your Cash App account to a debit card or credit card. 6. Report the transaction as a scamNow that you’ve done everything in your power to try and get your money back, it’s time to report the scammer. Open Cash App, tap your profile icon, and then select “Support” and “Report a Payment Issue.” Select the scam payment in question and follow the prompts. 7. Report and block the Cash App scammerFinally, block the scam account by going to the scammer’s profile, scrolling to the bottom, and tapping “Report” or “Block.” 8. File a complaint with the FTCThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) tracks and reports on scams. If you’ve lost money or given up sensitive information that could be used for identity theft — such as your name, address, credit card number, Social Security number (SSN), etc. — you should report it to the FTC. Report the scam to official government authorities by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP or by visiting ReportFraud.ftc.gov. 9. Freeze your creditIf scammers accessed your Cash App account and have discovered more sensitive financial information about you, they could potentially open new accounts or take out loans in your name. A credit freeze stops anyone from accessing your credit report. To freeze your credit, contact each of the three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — and request a credit freeze. You can also lock your credit with a single tap using Aura’s all-in-one digital security app. 10. Consider signing up for a digital security solutionScammers don’t just target you over Cash App. If they gain access to your financial or personal information, they could do immense damage to your reputation, credit, and identity. Aura’s all-in-one digital security solution proactively protects you from Cash App scammers (and worse). With Aura, you get:
If you’ve been scammed on Cash App, your identity could be at risk. Try Aura free for 14 days, today! Did You Lose Your Cash App Card? Do This!If scammers have access to your Cash App card, they could potentially steal your money. If your wallet or bag is lost or stolen (or you lose your Cash App card), here’s what to do:
How To Secure Your Cash App Account Against Scammers
Shop, browse, work, and play online — safely. Try Aura's all-in-one digital security platform FREE for 14 days!Does Cash App refund you if scammed?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 who is promising to deliver you something at a later date.
How do you get your money back from Cash App?Tap the Activity tab on your Cash App home screen. Select the payment. Tap . . . Select Refund.
How do you get a refund on Cash App if sent to wrong person?Cash App can't cancel or refund a payment after it has been completed.. Tap the Activity tab on your Cash App home screen.. Select the payment in question and tap Completed.. Tap Report an Issue.. Select a reason and tap Next to complete the request.. How long does it take for Cash App to refund?When a merchant refunds a transaction it can take up to 10 business days for the Cash App to receive the refund. As soon as Cash App receives the refund, the funds will automatically appear in your Cash App balance. If you have any questions before the 10 days have passed, please reach out directly to the merchant.
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