Payment app scams

Only trust the actual payment app or bank balance, not screenshots.

Trust only the balance shown inside your actual bank or payment app.

Open your bank app manually and review the transfer there instead of using the text.

Open the PayPal business dashboard directly and review alerts there, not from a message link.

Legitimate debt collectors do not accept payment via peer-to-peer apps.

Recognize that no legitimate investment can guarantee to multiply your money — any such promise is a scam

Never send money to strangers online in exchange for a promise of a larger return

If you receive an invoice for something you did not buy, do not call the phone number — log into PayPal directly and decline the invoice.

Always use PayPal's Goods and Services option for any purchase — the small fee provides full buyer protection.

Never click links in PayPal alert emails — open a browser and go directly to paypal.com to check your account status.

Check your PayPal account directly at paypal.com — if there is no matching transaction, the email is fake.

Never refund overpayments to a different account or by a different payment method — refund only through PayPal's built-in refund feature to the original sender.

Never release goods based on a buyer's screen — always verify the payment has arrived in your own PayPal account or email.

Request signature confirmation for purchases over 750 USD and document unboxing with video.

PayPal will never ask you to submit tax documents or verify business details through an email link — always use the PayPal Business dashboard directly.

Never rely on email notifications alone — always verify payments by logging into your PayPal account directly.

Decline any money request from someone you do not recognize — you are never obligated to pay an unsolicited PayPal request.

Hang up and call your bank directly using the number on the back of your debit card — never trust the number on an incoming call.

Check your bank's Zelle transaction history directly — Zelle does not send emails requiring account upgrades or fees to receive payments.

Zelle payments are deposited automatically if you are enrolled — there is no need to click a link to accept payments.

Zelle does not have account tiers, business upgrades, or premium accounts that require fees — this is always a scam.

Do not respond to fraud alert texts — call your bank directly using the official number on your card or bank statement.

Never refund Zelle overpayments — ask the buyer to contact their bank to reverse the excess amount themselves.

Never send a rental deposit via Zelle or any peer-to-peer app without first seeing the property in person and verifying the landlord's identity.

Zelle does not have its own customer support — all Zelle issues are handled by your bank's customer service.

Verify all payment requests by calling the vendor or client at a known phone number — do not use contact information from the email requesting payment.

Do not send money back — tell the sender to contact their bank to reverse the payment through official channels.

Decline payment requests from anyone you do not recognize — verify with the person through a separate channel if the name looks familiar.

Never click links in emails claiming to be from Venmo — open the Venmo app or go to venmo.com directly.

Venmo is designed for payments between people who know and trust each other — do not use it for transactions with strangers.

Venmo support will never ask for your password or ask you to send a payment to verify your account.

Only use Venmo for purchases when the seller has a business profile with purchase protection enabled.

Never click links in unexpected text messages claiming to be from Venmo — open the app directly to check your account.

Log into Venmo directly through the app or website — if your account is truly frozen, you will see the notification there.

Verify business legitimacy before paying — check the company's official website for their accepted payment methods.

Donate only through verified platforms like GoFundMe or directly through registered charity websites — check Charity Navigator or GuideStar.

Do not send money back to anyone you do not know — tell them to contact Venmo support to reverse the payment.

Cash App's official giveaways never require you to send money first — any giveaway asking for payment is a scam.

There is no legitimate way to multiply money by sending it to a stranger — this is always a scam.

Cash App support is only available through the app itself — tap the profile icon and select 'Support.' There is no official Cash App phone number for customer support.

You never need to pay a fee to receive money on Cash App — this is always a scam.

Inspect card readers before use — wiggle the card slot and check for anything loose or out of place.

Cash App Boosts are only available within the official Cash App — never through external links or messages.

No one can guarantee returns on cryptocurrency — guaranteed profit claims are always a scam.

Never release goods based on a screenshot — always verify that the payment appears in your own Cash App activity feed.

Cash App identity verification is only done within the official app — never through email links or external websites.

Strangers offering free money online are always scammers — no legitimate person sends money to people they do not know.

Never pay for eBay items outside of eBay's managed payments system.