How To Get Money Back From Cash App if Scammed

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As scammers continue to look for new ways to get their hands on consumers’ hard-earned money, financial institutions are fighting back, providing ways for their customers to recoup that money. Filing a dispute with their credit card companies is one way consumers can get their money returned.

But what if you’re thinking, “I got scammed on Cash App. What do I do?” Read on to find out how to get your money back on Cash App if you are scammed and tips for avoiding Cash App scams.

See: What To Do if You Owe Back Taxes to the IRS

Will Cash App Refund My Money if I Get Scammed?

Whether you’re a Cash App user who suspects fraud or are considering getting the app and wondering about its safety, your primary concern is likely this: Will Cash App refund your money if you’re scammed?

No, you cannot always get a refund for a fraudulent Cash App transaction. The Cash App team will investigate every disputed transaction and decide which transactions will result in a refund and which will be denied. If Cash App denies your refund request, you may still have the following options for getting your money back.

How To Get Money Back on Cash App if Scammed

So what should you do if you’ve been scammed on Cash App? Here are your options for reporting the scam and attempting to get a refund of the fraudulent charges:

1. Cancel the payment
2. Request a refund
3. Dispute the transaction
4. Report the transaction as a scam
5. Report the scam account
6. Notify your bank of the fraud
7. Freeze your credit
8. Report the fraud to the FTC or the IC3

1. Cancel the Payment

Cash App transactions generally happen instantly, so you typically can’t cancel them. But in rare cases, you can if the transaction hasn’t yet been completed. If you want to try to cancel a transaction:

1. Log in to Cash App.
2. Go to the Activity tab on the home screen.
3. Locate and select the transaction you believe is fraudulent.
4. Look for a “Cancel” link. If there is no cancel link, Cash App has already finalized the transaction. Select the link if the option is available to cancel the transaction.

2. Request a Refund

If you can’t cancel the transaction, requesting a refund is the next step to getting your money back. To do so:

1. Log in to your Cash App account.
2. On the home screen, go to the Activity tab.
3. Select the fraudulent payment.
4. Select “Completed.”
5. Select “Report an Issue.”
6. Choose a reason for the refund request from the available options.
7. Select “Next.”

Unfortunately, fraudsters aren’t likely to just hand their stolen money back to their victims. You may have to escalate the issue by disputing the transaction.

3. Dispute the Transaction

Disputing a transaction can coerce a merchant to return the money you paid if they can’t prove they’ve provided the product or expected service.

You should only file disputes after you have attempted to contact the merchant, requested a refund through Cash App and failed to get a resolution. If that’s the case, follow these steps:

1. Log in to Cash App.
2. Go to the Activity tab on the home screen.
3. Locate the fraudulent transaction and select it.
4. Select the icon that looks like three small dots.
5. Select the “Need Help & Cash App Support” option.
6. Select “Dispute this Transaction.”

The Cash App team will investigate the claim.

4. Report the Transaction to Cash App as a Scam

You can report the issue to Cash App if you’ve tried all the previous options to get a refund on a fraudulent transaction.

1. Log in to Cash App.
2. Go to your profile using the profile icon.
3. Select “Support.”
4. Tap “Report a Payment Issue.”
5. Select the fraudulent transaction and follow the prompts.

5. Report and Block the Scam Account

Sometimes a Cash App scam is associated with a potential scam account rather than a specific payment. To report and block possible scam accounts:

1. Log in to Cash App.
2. Search for the profile of the scam account.
3. View the profile and scroll to the bottom.
4. Select “Report” or “Block” and then follow the prompts.

6. Notify Your Bank of the Fraud

Whenever you are a victim of fraud that could impact your bank account or debit card, contact your bank. A bank representative can advise you on any action you should take to protect your account from further fraud and determine if you can file a dispute for the fraudulent transaction with the bank.

7. Put a Freeze on Your Credit

Not all Cash App fraud is limited to purchases and transactions. If a scammer has accessed your Cash App account, they may also have accessed your financial information. Contacting the major credit bureaus to freeze your credit can be a good idea to prevent a scammer from opening fraudulent accounts using your credit.

8. Report the Fraud to the FTC or the IC3

The Federal Trade Commission or the Internet Crime Complaint Center are two common ways to report fraud to the government. Both agencies will require information to identify the victim, the con artist and details of the fraudulent transaction.

What Can Be Done To Avoid Cash App Scams?

Unfortunately, taking the previously outlined steps does not guarantee you’ll see your money again if someone scams you. Knowing how to avoid scams altogether is the best protection.

Using the following tips can help you avoid most Cash App scams:

• Avoid sending or accepting money from someone you don’t know and trust.
• Never disclose personal information to anyone through the platform.
• Double-check all recipient information before sending money.
• Avoid sending money to someone who promises future or too-good-to-be-true products or services.
• Stay current on the latest Cash App scams to better spot signs of potential fraud.
• Contact Cash App Support through the app or by phone if you receive a suspicious email or text claiming to be from Cash App. Don’t click on any links in the email or text.

Cash App also provides the following security features that can help protect against fraud:

• Notifications: If you elect to receive email or text notifications, Cash App will alert you whenever a payment is sent from your account.
• Security Lock: When Security Lock is enabled, your passcode, Face ID or Touch ID is required to send a payment.
• Two-factor authentication: When enabled, this feature requires you to enter a one-time code sent from Cash App before you can sign in to your account.

Takeaway

Fraudsters have discovered ways to scam people on almost every payment app — from Venmo to Zelle — and Cash App is no exception. Knowing how to get a refund on Cash App and other payment apps you may use is helpful information, just in case you do fall victim to fraud.

Regardless of the payment app, if you limit the sending and receiving of money to and from trusted sources and keep your accounts secure, you should be able to use payment apps safely.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.

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