Random Person Sent Me Money on Cash App: What Should I Do?
Written by
Jacob Wade
Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Picture this; You wake up on a sunny Sunday morning, ready for a relaxing day.
You pick up your phone to see what’s going on in the world–and you have a notification from Cash App. Someone random just sent you $100! Woohoo!
But while it’s tempting to think this is your lucky day and you should celebrate with free breakfast on a stranger–this could actually be a scam. Here’s what you should actually do if you receive money on Cash App from someone you don’t know:
Is A Random Cash App Deposit A Scam?
While receiving money from a random person through Cash App can be a scam–it truly might just be an accident. It’s easy to accidentally send money to the wrong person if there’s a typo in the $Cashtag or email address used. And once the money is sent–there’s no easy way to cancel the transaction.
But in many cases, a random deposit is someone trying to scam you. And you should proceed with caution when you receive a deposit into your Cash App account that you don’t expect.
How Do Cash App Deposit Scams Work?
There are two main types of Cash App deposit scams that criminals try:
Cash App “Mistake” Deposit
The first type of Cash App deposit scam involves someone sending you money, and then contacting you about the deposit. The scammer will usually say the money was sent to you by “mistake” and they kindly ask that you send the money back as a refund.
While this might feel like no big deal (it’s not your money to begin with), you could end up getting a chargeback from Cash App. This is because this scam involves the scammer stealing credit or debit card information from someone, using it to send you money through Cash App, then asking you to refund it.
If you send the money to the Cash App scammer, they can then switch the payment method on their account and cash out to their own bank account. Meanwhile, the person whose card was stolen will usually report the transaction as fraudulent. This means the credit card company can request to reverse the transaction, and you might be forced to cover the fraudulent charges.
Cash App “Prize” Scam
Another type of random deposit scam on Cash App involves someone sending you a small amount of money, then contacting you to tell you the deposit is because you won a prize. The scammer will then proceed to tell you details of the prize and how you can claim the entire amount, but you’ll need to pay for “processing fees” or for “taxes.”
If you send the scammer the money for fees, they will likely ghost you and you won’t receive the “prize” money that was promised. And the money they send you may very well be from a stolen card, too–which may be reported and charged back to you as well.
What To Do When You Receive A Random Cash App Deposit
If you receive money from a random stranger on Cash App, don’t cash it out. Here’s what you should do instead:
1. Don’t send money to a stranger
First off, don’t send the money directly back to the person who “accidently” sent it your way. If this money is from a stolen card, the transaction will eventually be reported and you could be charged for the fraudulent transfer. So if the stranger contacts you and asks you to send the money back, contact Cash App customer service instead.
2. Contact Cash App customer service
If you receive a random deposit that you think might be a scam, you should get in touch with Cash App customer service right away. Contact information is available at cash.app/help.
3. Block the (potential) scammer
If you didn’t expect a deposit and don’t want this person to continue attempting to send you funds, you can block them. This is important to ensure the person does not send a money request to you as well.
4. Send a refund (not a new transaction)
Cash App has a built-in refund function that lets you issue a refund directly to the seller so it is tied with the original transaction. This can help you avoid a chargeback from a credit card issuer or bank.
How To Contact Cash App Customer Service
You can contact Cash App by calling (800) 969-1940 from 9:00am to 7:00pm ET any day. Or you can contact Cash App directly through the app by selecting “Support” and then starting a live chat with an agent during business hours.
You can also reach out through one of the many social media channels Cash App is active on, including:
- Instagram: @CashApp
- X: @CashApp @CashSupport
- Tiktok: @CashApp
- Twitch: twitch.tv/CashApp
- Reddit: u/CashAppAndi
- Facebook: SquareCash
Calling by phone or contacting through chat are your best bet for assistance from the Cash App support team directly.
FAQ
- What happens if a random person sends you money on the Cash App?
- If someone randomly sends you money on Cash App, you should contact customer service right away. You can also issue a refund directly within the app to avoid being scammed. Do not engage with the person sending the funds until you've been in touch with Cash App support to know your options. Do not cash out the funds.
- What to do if a stranger sends you money?
- If a stranger sends you money in Cash App, don't assume it's yours to keep. This could be a mistake transaction, but sometimes it's a scam. The person could ask for you to send a new transaction to refund the money, but then a chargeback may be created from the card used and you could be on the hook. Always contact Cash App customer service if you're unsure how to handle a random deposit.
- What happens if a scammer gets your Cash App?
- If a scammer has your Cash App email address, phone number, or $Cashtag, they may try to bait you into sending them money. This may come in the form of a random deposit that they ask for you to send back in a separate transaction, or as part of a scheme pretending to offer you more money if you send them a "fee" in return. To avoid scams, contact customer service right away if you're unsure how to handle random cash deposits or money requests.
- Can you get free money on Cash App?
- Cash App offers referrals that can earn you free money if you get a friend or family member to sign up. The current Cash App referral offer varies by code and can be up to $20 or more. There are requirements that must be met to earn the referral bonus. There are also occasionally sweepstakes and giveaways that Cash App runs throughout the year that could net you a cash prize.
