Why Random People Send You Money on Cash App: Scam Guide

Download Article

The safest way to handle random payments in Cash App

Co-authored by Naveh Ben Dror and Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: December 11, 2024 Fact Checked

Download Article

Why are random people sending me money?

|

What to Do About Random Deposits

|

Avoiding Cash App Scams

|

Expert Interview

Did somebody you don't know send you money on Cash App? It's likely a scam! Scammers send money to Cash App users using stolen accounts and then claim they sent it "by accident." Within a day or two of receiving random money, you'll typically get a payment request from the scammer asking you to send them the same amount back. To keep your Cash App account secure and avoid losing money, decline the payment request, and process a refund directly through Cash App. This wikiHow article will explain why you're receiving random money from people on Cash App, and the appropriate steps to take to keep your account and money safe.

Things You Should Know

If you receive money from a random person, it's likely a scam involving a stolen card or Cash App account.
Don't spend the money, as it will be deducted from your account once the stolen account's owner finds evidence of fraud.
If you receive a payment request asking for the money back, decline it, and then refund the money using the Refund feature.

Section 1 of 3:

Why are random people sending me money?

Download Article

1
If a random person sends you money, it's likely a scam. Scammers send money using stolen cards and hacked Cash App accounts to strangers hoping they'll send the same amount back to them. After receiving the random deposit, you'll usually receive a payment request for the same amount you were sent, with a message that claims they've sent the money by accident. Do not fulfill this payment request.
- If you approve the payment request for the amount the scammer asks for, the money will be subtracted from your own bank account. At that point, the scammer will usually transfer your payment to their own card (or send it to another compromised Cash App account).
- When the owner of the stolen card or account used by the scammer finds that someone made a large transaction to Cash App, they'll dispute the charge through their bank, which then deducts the amount from your Cash App balance or bank account. So, the scammer will not only get the money you sent them, but you'll also have to refund the person whose account was stolen!
A person may have accidentally sent you money by mistyping the Cashtag of the person they were trying to pay. But even if the money was really sent by mistake, you should still follow the same procedure as you would with a scammer. This way, you can safely refund the sender their money, and you won't owe any additional funds.

Section 2 of 3:

What to Do About Random Deposits

Download Article

1
Refund the money. If you receive money from somebody you don't know, do not spend it or respond to requests that you send it back. Instead, process a refund through Cash App using these steps:
- Tap the Activity tab at the bottom-right corner of Cash App.
- Select the random payment.
- Tap the three-dot menu.
- Tap Refund.
- Tap OK to confirm.^{[1]
  X
  Research source}
2
Decline the payment request. If you've received a payment request from a random person, do not fulfill the request. Instead, you should decline it, as this refunds the money they sent without affecting your bank account. You can also report the sender while declining. Here's how:^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Tap the Activity icon at the bottom-right corner of Cash App.
- Tap the money request.
- Tap More Options or the three-dot menu at the top-right corner.
- Tap Decline Request.
- Or, if you want to take things a step further, tap Decline & Report This Request to report the scammer to Cash App.
If you've been scammed on Cash App, reach out to support directly by calling 1 (800) 969-1940.^{[3]
X
Research source} Let the support team know the details of the scam and they may be able to help you recover your funds.

Section 3 of 3:

Avoiding Cash App Scams

Download Article

1
Turn off requests from people you don't know. While you can't prevent random strangers from sending you money, you can limit who can request money from you:
- Tap the profile icon.
- Scroll down and tap Security & Privacy.
- Under "Incoming Requests," select Contacts only. Alternatively, you can tap the slider to disable all incoming requests for money.^{[4]
  X
  Research source}
2
Block people who send you random money or requests. After processing a refund and canceling the payment request, you can block them to prevent future contact:
- Tap the Activity tab.
- Tap the person's name.
- Scroll down and tap Block.^{[5]
  X
  Research source}
3
Watch out for phishing attempts via email or text message. Cash App may send you emails and text messages, but the only website addresses in these messages will be square.com, squareup.com, cash.app, and cash.me. Email messages will only come from addresses ending with @cash.app, @square.com, or @squareup.com. If you see any other links in the message (or if clicking or tapping a link directs you to a different website), the message was not sent by Cash App.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- To avoid accidentally providing your login details to a scammer, only sign in to Cash App by opening the app on your Android or iPhone, or by typing https://cash.app directly into your web browser's address bar.
- If you have a brokerage account through Cash App, you may also receive emails from support@drivewealth.com.
4
Be wary of emails, texts, and phone calls from "Cash App Support." If somebody contacts you claiming to work for Cash App, don't give them any personal information (username, PIN, social security number, or home address). Instead of replying or providing information, open Cash App on your phone or tablet, tap the profile icon, tap Support, and then tap Chat. Let the support team know you're concerned about recent contact from Cash App and ask them if they can confirm whether the person who contact you was really from their support team.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Cash App Support will never ask you to send test transactions or download any separate apps for support.
5
Avoid other scams. In addition to the mistaken deposit scam, there are other scams to look out for on Cash App:^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Cash flipping and clearance fees: If somebody tells you they'll be able to increase or double your money if you send them a fee for clearance or verification, do not comply. This is a scam, and you will not receive any money from the scammer.
- Payment and prize claims: If you receive an email, phone call, text, or social media message that says you need to claim a payment, award money, or any other type of payment, this is also a scam. Don't ever send a payment to somebody who claims you've won something or are owed money.
- Deposit scams: These scams often happen to people shopping for pets, houses, or other expensive items on sites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and OfferUp. The scammer will post photos and details that look realistic, and then tell you they need you to send them a deposit via Cash App in order to hold the item, home, or pet you want. Avoid paying deposits over Cash App, Venmo, Zelle, or any other payment platform until you've met the seller in person and confirmed the seller is legitimate.
6
Secure your Cash App account. Use Cash App's built-in security features to help keep your account safe from hackers and scammers. Go to your profile, then tap Security & Privacy to review your options.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- Turn on Security Lock to require a PIN, Touch ID, or Face ID to unlock the app and transfer funds.
- Review the devices under "Your Devices" to make sure unrecognized devices are not accessing your Cash App account.
- Enable two-factor authentication using an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Authy. Tap the switch next to "Use Authenticator App" to get started.
- Use a strong password for your Cash App account, as well as your email account.