Can You Get Scammed on Cash App?

Yes, you can get scammed on Cash App in a variety of ways, including cash flipping, accidental payments and phishing messages. Cash App scams are harmful because they can swindle you out of money, steal your personal information and even gain access to your Cash App account.

Continue reading to learn more about Cash App, several of the most common Cash App scams and how you can avoid becoming a victim of them.

What is Cash App?

Cash App is a financial and mobile payment service that allows you to send and receive money to friends, family or strangers. The app was created in 2013 and has over 50 million monthly users making transactions as of 2024. People use Cash App to conveniently transfer money, like paying for odd jobs or sending money after splitting the bill at a restaurant. You can also use Cash App if you own a small business, using its business mode to receive payments, manage your income and link your Cash App account to your bank account. Despite Cash App being a safe way to send money to people you know, Cash App is not always safe to use when transferring money with strangers.

5 common Cash App scams

Since Cash App is not the safest way to send and receive money from strangers, there are several ways you can get scammed on the app. Let’s dive into five of the most common types of Cash App scams.

1. Cash flipping

One of the most common scams on Cash App is cash flipping, where a scammer promises to increase your money if you send them funds in the form of fees or for account verification. For example, a scammer could claim to be an expert financial investor and ask you to send them money to invest in a successful project. If you send them your money over Cash App, the scammer will accept it but never send you anything in return. In general, if anyone asks you to send them money first, it is most likely a scam. No legitimate businesses flip cash, so if someone promises to send you free money in exchange for a payment or investment, know that this is a scam.

2. Accidental payments

Scammers may send you an accidental payment and ask you to send them the money back. However, the money you send back to the scammer will come from your own funds, while the scammers will dispute their payment with their bank after you’ve sent them the money. This will not only return the money the scammer originally sent you, but also allow them to keep your money. When a person claims they sent you money by accident or requests a refund from you on Cash App, it is most likely a scam.

3. Cash App Friday scams

#CashAppFriday is a cash giveaway promotion legitimately run by Cash App, but scammers use the hashtag to trick you into believing you won. For example, a scammer will create a Cash App account impersonating the app and reach out to you, asking for your payment information so you can receive your prize. However, if you are a winner of a legitimate Cash App giveaway, Cash App will not contact you asking for your login credentials or payment information. If you’re unsure whether you won a legitimate giveaway, refer to Cash App’s official social media accounts or contact Cash App Support.

4. Phishing messages

Just as scammers pretend to be Cash App for giveaways, they also impersonate Cash App by acting as real customer support representatives in phishing scams. For example, you may receive an email from someone claiming to be with Cash App and asking for your login information, threatening that your account will be deactivated if you don’t provide it. By providing your username and password, you would actually be giving this sensitive information to a scammer who could then use it to hack into your account and potentially commit fraud. Verified emails from Cash App will only come from addresses ending in @cash.app, @square.com and @squareup.com. When you receive an email claiming to be from Cash App, check the sender’s email address before doing anything else.

5. Deals that seem too good to be true

Many Cash App scammers offer expensive items or services at low prices. For example, a scammer might promise to find you an apartment or home with a very affordable rental rate. If you express interest in this great deal, the scammer will ask you to send a deposit before they continue to assist you. Once you send them the money, the scammer will take it and disappear. Deals that seem too good to be true typically are, and you should never feel comfortable buying anything expensive in return for a Cash App payment from a stranger. Since Cash App is not a marketplace, it is not good to use it as one.

How to avoid Cash App scams

Even though there are several common Cash App scams, you can stay protected by only transacting with people you trust, not sharing your sensitive information online and securing your Cash App with a strong password.

Only send and accept payments from people you trust

It’s important to use Cash App only to send and receive money from people you know and trust. Using Cash App to make or accept payments from strangers can lead to you being scammed since you never know someone’s real intentions. A stranger could decide not to send you the money for an item or service or overpay you and request the money back, claiming it was an accidental payment. Avoid using Cash App as a form of mobile payment if you need to send or receive money from someone who you don’t trust.

Do not share your sensitive information online

Scammers can learn more about your interests if you overshare online, especially on social media. You should never share any private information online because scammers can use it to their advantage. For example, if you have your phone number on your social media profile, a scammer can find your phone number and target you for realistic smishing or vishing attempts. You should also make sure not to share your Cash App PIN or any other account details with anyone online. If someone gains access to your private Cash App information, they could hack into your account and commit fraud.

Secure your Cash App with a strong password

Because your Cash App account holds sensitive information, it is important to keep it secure by using a strong and unique password. For any account, especially one involving financial information, you should avoid using weak or reused passwords, as a scammer could use them to hack into your accounts and steal your information. If you use the same password for your Cash App account on many other accounts and a scammer guesses your Cash App password, they could try logging in to your other accounts and invade your privacy.

To prevent your Cash App account from being hacked, you should use a password generator or passphrase generator. Password generators and passphrase generators create strong, random passwords and passphrases that make it more difficult for scammers to access your account. Once you have a strong and unique password for your Cash App account, you should protect it by using a password manager like Keeper^®. Keeper Password Manager has a built-in password generator, so it can create and store your passwords in a secure, encrypted vault.

Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

In addition to using a strong password for your Cash App account, you should also enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), which is an additional security measure. 2FA is a form of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) that requires an extra way of validating your identity before accessing an account. For example, if you have 2FA enabled on your Cash App, someone will need your username, password and 2FA to access your account. Some common forms of 2FA include Time-Based One-Time Passwords (TOTP) and One-Time Passwords (OTP).

To enable 2FA on your Cash App Account, visit your profile and scroll down to Security & Privacy. At the bottom of that screen, you will have the option to Use Authenticator App, such as Google Authenticator or Keeper Password Manager. You can also use your phone number or email address as a form of 2FA, so anyone trying to log in to your Cash App account will have to send a code to you via text or email. Keeper Password Manager not only can be used as an authenticator app, but it can also securely store 2FA codes in your digital vault.

Enable your Cash App notifications

Make sure you have your Cash App notifications enabled to receive alerts about suspicious activity. You can receive push notifications, text messages or emails from Cash App by going to your profile on your Cash App’s home screen. Tap Notifications, then toggle which methods you’d like to receive notifications. Having your Cash App notifications enabled will allow you to receive alerts for every payment you receive, a new device logging in to your account, changes to your security settings and suspicious activity.

Enable security lock on your Cash App

Cash App’s feature called Security Lock requires a passcode, Touch ID or Face ID to make a payment. You can enable this feature by visiting your Cash App Profile, then go to Security & Privacy and toggle on Security Lock. Enter a PIN that you will remember or set up your Touch/Face ID. By doing this, you will keep your account more secure and stop anyone else from making payments on your account or device. This is essential to keeping your account secure because even if a scammer knew your login credentials, they would not be able to make payments with your financial information if they needed a PIN, your fingerprint or face.

Stay protected against Cash App scams

Keep your Cash App account safe and protect yourself from the many Cash App scams. Make sure to only send and receive payments from people you know, not overshare sensitive information online, use a strong password for your account and enable 2FA. A convenient way to update your Cash App password to a stronger one is by using a password manager, which can create and store your login credentials for all your accounts in a safe place.

Start your free 30-day trial of Keeper Password Manager today to protect yourself from Cash App scams and other cyber threats.