November 5, 2020 4:30 AM EST
There's a new twist on Cash App that is hitting customers especially hard during the pandemic
ST. LOUIS — It's the most common scam complaint we get.
This year, the 5 On Your Side I-Team has received dozens of complaints from Cash App users who say their accounts were drained by scammers.
In the past, we've been able to get those users their money back while warning others about the specific scams.
Now there's a new twist on the Cash App con that is hitting customers especially hard during the pandemic.
Convenience with a cost
Ditching the plastic, and paying with a wave or tap of your phone can seem pretty magical. Unless, like a large number of Cash App customers, you encounter a green screen with a '$0' balance on it.
"All my money was going out of my account. My account is not coming up. What is going on?" said Tamika Lea, a newer Cash App user.
"I'm on the phone with them, and I'm like, 'Why do you take my money off my card?'" said Kevin Jordan, a long time Cash App user.
Both Jordan and Lea told the I-team they had issues with their Cash App accounts this summer that prompted them to contact Cash App customer service. In Lea's case, her Cash App credit card was stuck in an ATM. Jordan says one day he wasn't able to access the direct deposit that should've been in his Cash App account.
Cash App doesn't have phone support
Jordan and Lea didn't know that, however. They googled 'Cash App customer support phone number' until they finally found an 800 number they thought could connect them with a legitimate Cash App representative.
Instead, the numbers they found led them straight to scammers.
Dan Yarber, director of governance risk and compliance with Parameter Security explains.
"There's a lot of techniques that marketing companies use for search engine optimization to get their pages to their, their companies to the top of the search results," said Yarber. "The scammers are doing the exact same things. Creating those types of situations where their sites come to the top."
Common questions about scams and fraudsters:
Q: Does Cash App have customer service phone support?
A: Cash App offers an automated support line at 1-855-351-2274. Cash App does not currently have a direct customer support phone number that you can call for personalized support.
Q: Does Cash App give away free money?
A: The Cash App team holds periodic sweepstakes on our official Twitter account (https://twitter.com/CashApp) where Cash App customers can win money through Cash App. These sweepstakes never require participants to provide anyone with their sign-in code or PIN. We also never ask customers to send a payment, make a purchase, download any application for “remote access,” or complete a "test" transaction of any kind. All payments are sent from the verified Cash App account, displayed with a blue checkmark. Currently, only US residents can participate in this program. For more information on Cash App Fridays, see https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/supercashappfriday.
Q: Is it safe to send money to people I don’t know?
A: No! Only send payments to people who you trust. For guidance on canceling a payment, see https://cash.app/help/us/en-us/3051.
Q: Will Cash App Support ask for personal or account information?
A: No! Do not provide anyone with personal information like your Cash App PIN or sign-in code. Cash Support will never ask you to provide your sign-in code, PIN, or other sensitive information like your bank account information. Cash Support will never require you to send a payment, make a purchase, download any application for “remote access,” or complete a "test" transaction of any kind.
Q: Can I dispute a purchase if I pay someone ahead of time?
A: Never pay someone who you don’t trust for something promised to you in the future (like a puppy from an upcoming litter or a lease on a new apartment). Most payments are instant and usually cannot be canceled. For guidance on disputing a Cash Card purchase, please see https://cash.app/help/us/en-us/309115-cash-card-dispute-purchase. In general, if something sounds too good to be true (like free money in exchange for a small payment), it’s a scam.
Cash App strives to be a safe place for customers to send money instantly to those they know and trust. Please keep these best practices in mind before you send payments on Cash App to ensure your money is always safe and secure.
If someone is promising something that sounds too good to be true (e.g., a “hack” or free money in exchange for you sending them a payment first), then it is almost certainly a scam. Always be wary of individuals promising you anything. What scammers do, by and large, is promise you something, take your money, and then never deliver on what they promised. Here is a list of common scams to help you avoid them:
Cash Flipping Scam
Scammers will claim to have the ability to “flip” your money, promising to increase your money if you first send them funds (sometimes they call this a “clearance fee” or “account verification”). These scammers will accept your funds and then never send you anything in return. If someone is promising you free money in return for sending them a payment, it is a scam.
There are no legitimate businesses that are “flipping cash.” They are all scams.
Payment Claiming Scam
Sometimes scammers will ask you to “claim” a payment that you “deserve” by sending money to them. These payment-claiming attempts are always scams. Never send money to another person expecting a larger payment in return. Just like with Cash Flipping, if someone is promising you free money in return for sending them a payment, it is a scam.
Moreover, Cash App will never request funds from a customer for any reason. There is no such thing as “claiming” a payment by sending money to Cash App.
Puppy/Pet Deposit Scam
Scammers will claim to have an upcoming litter and request a deposit in order to secure one of the puppies or kittens. These scammers usually post fake photos, won’t communicate over the phone, and will offer to sell purebred, highly-sought-after animals at an extremely low price. Since Cash App cannot guarantee a refund if you don't receive what you pay for, it’s safer to send money over Cash App once you meet the buyer in-person and receive whatever has been promised to you.
Don’t send money to someone you don’t know who is promising to deliver you something at a later date. Always verify those you send money to and pay them after you receive that which you purchased.
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