5 Sneaky Venmo Scams You Don't Want To Fall For | Aura

Learn how to spot (and avoid) the most common Venmo scams: https://www.aura.com/learn/venmo-scams Did you know that apps like Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App have fraud rates 3–4X higher than credit cards? WHAT ARE VENMO SCAMS? Scammers use Venmo to trick their victims into sending them money or personal information like their bank account details or Social Security number (SSN). Why? Because Venmo transfers appear instantly, but don’t actually go through for a few days. This makes it hard for banks to catch scammers using stolen credit cards or who trick you into sending money to the wrong account. CAN YOU GET YOUR MONEY BACK FROM A VENMO SCAM? The honest truth is: probably not. Venmo treats your money more like cash — which means you don’t have protection against fraud (unless you sent money to an official business account). Instead, it’s always better to avoid scams than try to get your money back after being a victim. DON’T FALL FOR THESE VENMO SCAMS 1. “Mistake” Money Transfers: A scammer sends you money “by accident” and then sends you a message asking for a refund. In reality, the scammer sent you money using a stolen credit card. When the real credit card owner files a fraud complaint, Venmo takes the missing money out of your account. 2. Fake Friends Requesting Help: Scammers change their profile photo and name to appear like someone you know. Then, they send you money requests for groceries or other basics, claiming they’ll pay you back later. But any money you send will disappear. 3. Scammers Selling Hard-To-Find Items: Scammers claim they have hard-to-find items like tickets or gaming consoles for sale. They post ads on marketplaces like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace and then insist you use Venmo to transfer them money. 4. Strangers Asking To Use Your Phone: In this scam, a stranger (even a child!) will ask to use your phone for an emergency. Then, when you’re not looking closely, they’ll open your Venmo app and quickly transfer out money. 5. Fake Emails and Texts Claiming to be From Venmo: Scammers will send you messages that look like they’re from Venmo. But if you click on the links in the message, it will download malware on your device or send you to a phishing site designed to steal your personal information. - Ignore unexpected transfers - Don’t deposit “mistaken” transfers into your account - Always double-check with friends who are requesting money - Update your Venmo privacy settings to hide your transaction - Don’t use Venmo to buy items from people online (unless it’s an official business on Venmo) - Keep your Venmo account locked with a PIN or Touch ID. - Don’t click on links from emails or texts claiming to be from Venmo (or financial institutions). - Protect your personal information and devices with Aura’s all-in-one digital security solution. With Aura, you get industry-leading identity theft protection, one-click credit lock, constant credit monitoring, phishing and malware protection, 24/7 support from fraud resolution specialists, and $1,000,000 in insurance for eligible losses due to identity theft. Protect yourself against Venmo scammers! Try Aura free for 14 days: https://buy.aura.com/free-trial Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:31 What are Venmo scams? 1:10 Can you get your money back after being scammed on Venmo? 1:48 "Mistake" money transfers 2:38 Fake friends requesting help 3:11 Scammers selling hard-to-find items 4:01 Strangers who ask to use your phone 4:31 Fake emails and texts claiming to be from Venmo Get expert advice and help recovering from scams by joining our Facebook group: https://bit.ly/466Bxy5 #venmo #venmoscams #scams