Scammers have also gotten much more clever with their tactics.
Picture this…
You work a job you like, but you’re disappointed that it doesn’t pay very well.
One day while Internet-surfing, you come across an “opportunity” that claims to double the money you send through Cash App, like the famous Cash App $100 to $800 flip.
You feel it’s a perfect side hustle to supplement your income and respond to the advertiser’s social media post.
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And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t like free Cash App money! It’s very tempting!
After talking a bit, you decide to send $500 to their $Cashtag, hoping to get back $1,000.
A couple of days later, you don’t receive the expected $1,000, plus you haven’t heard from the person.
You send messages asking about the money owed to you, but you get no response.
Then, you conduct some online research related to your experience, and to your horror, you realize that you fell for a Cash App cash flipping scheme.
Not only are you upset, but you’re also worried because your rent’s due, and you don’t have enough money in your bank account to pay it.
“Oh, no. I got scammed on Cash App! What do I do?” is the thought running through your head right now.
Sadly, cash flipping and other types of scams are common on Cash App.
In fact, FTC complaints related to Cash App went up from 735 in 2019 to 4,204 a year later. (That’s a 472 percent increase!)
Though it’s frustrating to deal with being fleeced out of money, you can take action to stop scammers and possibly get your money back.
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What will I learn?
Steps to Take if You’ve Been Scammed on Cash App
Follow these measures if you find yourself tangled in a Cash App scam.
1. Don’t confront them for a refund
Getting a refund is possible on Cash App when associating with an honest merchant.
But in this case, you’re not dealing with an honest merchant; you’re dealing with a scam artist.
It’s unlikely they’ll give your money back unless they express remorse for stealing from you. (Ha! What are the chances of that happening?)
In other words, this step’s only an FYI, so don’t waste your time trying to reason (or have any other communication) with a scammer.
2. See if you can cancel the payment
Cash App gives you the option of canceling payments.
However, there’s a catch — a transaction has to be on pending status for you to cancel it.
Provided that said transaction is pending, press the “Cancel” button.
3. Try to dispute the transaction
If canceling a payment isn’t feasible, follow these steps to dispute it:
- Open Cash App and touch “Activity.”
- Search for the payment, then tap the three dots on the upper-right side of it.
- Next, touch “Need Help & Cash App Support.”
- Then, press “Dispute Transaction.”
Hopefully, this will settle it, if not continue with the next steps.
4. Tell your bank about the scheme
There are two ways to notify your bank about a fraudulent transaction:
Dispute the bank account or debit/credit card payment- Contact your bank’s fraud department and ask them to stop/refund the transaction.
Close the account- Your bank may suggest you close the account and open a new one. (Hopefully, it doesn’t come to this, but sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures.)
5. Notify Cash App of the scam
Now that you’ve done everything in your power to retrieve your hard-earned money, report the scam to Cash App:
- Go to Cash App.
- Touch the “Profile” image in the upper-right-hand corner.
- Next, press “Support.”
- Then, tap “Report a payment issue,” and follow the rest of the instructions.
This not only helps you, but it also helps possible future victims by giving Cash App information they can use to protect customers.
6. Block the Cash App scam artist
To block the scammer, look for their profile, scroll down, and touch “Report” or “Block.”
7. Have your credit frozen
Scammers who have access to others’ Cash App accounts are more likely to have access to other financial information to use to apply for loans or open bank accounts in their names.
Prevent this from happening to you by contacting the major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian) and requesting them to freeze your credit.
8. Report the scam to government agencies
Report the Cash App scam to either the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) or the IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center).
These organizations need details like your name, address, and credit card information to process your request.
How to Avoid Future Cash App Scams
Use the following tips to guard yourself against future Cash App schemes. (That way, you won’t say “I got scammed on Cash App! What do I do?” again.)
1. Educate yourself on the latest Cash App scams
Besides the cash flipping example mentioned earlier in this post, other kinds of schemes take place on Cash App.
Some of them include the customer support scam, where someone calls you pretending to be Cash App support, and the “expensive item scheme,” which tricks you into paying for a non-existent item.
2. Only send money to people you know
It’s safest to send money to familiar people like your friends and family members.
Sending money to a total stranger doesn’t only hurt you; you could be giving them the means to pay for harmful products like drugs or something.
3. Listen to your gut instinct
Sometimes, you just need to listen to your gut.
If a “wonderful money-maker” doesn’t seem right, then it’s likely you should avoid it.
Final Say
I know what it feels like to be scammed, though I wasn’t scammed on Cash App. (Knock on wood!)
I fell for so many scams it’s a wonder that I didn’t file for bankruptcy.
While I now do everything in my power to protect myself from future scams, it can be tough to avoid sometimes because some scammers are really clever.
Though you may not be able to shield yourself from all scams, at least the tips I outlined above can reduce your chances of falling for Cash App schemes — or any scheme for that matter.
Instead of saying, “I got scammed on Cash App! What do I do?” you may now find yourself saying, “I’m no longer going to fall for Cash App schemes so easily because I know what to do this time.“
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