Posted on 09/19/2020 3:01:55 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Money transfer apps like Venmo, Zelle and Cash App have been growing in popularity during the pandemic — but 8News has uncovered scammers have found a way to use Cash App to con you of your cash.
The peer-to peer-payment app developed by Square lets you send and receive money instantly. 30 million people are now using the app valued at more than $40 billion dollars.
Troy Harrison had found cash app convenient for his business. Yet, the Norfolk resident didn’t know what do to when he noticed a payment to him was suddenly and mysteriously refunded from his account.
“I pull up Cash App immediately and I see $100 drop off,” Harrison said.
Before he could make sense of it, more money disappeared.
“Within about 15-20 minutes later another $202 drop off. So now, I am like scared,” he said.
He began to panic. However, there was no phone number to call Cash App doesn’t have live customer support, so Harrison sent an email.
“I reach out to Cash App and they took about two days to get back to me,” Harrison said.
It turned out someone disputed a payment to him. No one from Cash App ever contacted Harrison about it so that person disputed more payments-, draining Harrison’s account. He says he’s out hundreds and cash app told him there was nothing they could do.
Harrison’s not the only one with Cash App complaints.
“We get calls daily,” said Barry N Moore, the President and CEO of the Central Virginia Better Business Bureau.
He said the local BBB has received more than 30 complaints in just the past few months.
“It’s just a big mess,” Moore said.
The only way to talk to Cash App is through the app and website and scammers know it. They’re posing as cash app customer service representatives.
Moore says most the complaints to the BBB have come from Cash App customers who did a Google search for support after running into an issue with the app. Their search then led to very believable but bogus Cash App websites and fake customer service numbers where scammers are standing by ready to steal your money. Moore explained how the scam works.
“One of these things when you call this number, they’ll say let’s try a transfer,” he said.
One of the fake sites, cashappcontact.com to be headquartered in Richmond.
8News decided to check it out. The closest match took us to Mosby Court. Yet we found several problems with the address. While it lists a real Richmond zip code, the street name is spelled wrong and it’s not Coulter Lane, it’s Coalter Street. And one more thing, 2403 doesn’t exist.
Woman looking for love during coronavirus pandemic warns others of scams So, we gave them a call.
Woman on phone: “Yes, mam this is Cash App support, how can I help you?.”
Reporter: “Hi, I’m Kerri and I actually went you to your headquarters that is listed on the website in Richmond, Virginia since I live here. And, there’s no 2043 address. Where are you all?
Woman: “Sorry.”
The woman on the other end kept pressing to offer help Cash App, however, our reporter pressed her for a location.
Reporter: “Where’s your address.”
Woman: “California mam, California. It’s in California.”
Reporter: “Well, why does it say 2403 Richmond Virginia, Coalter Street, Richmond Virginia.”
It was then that the woman hung up.
“These are professional thieves,” Moore said.
Cash App is aware of the scams and a real number 855-351-2274 for the company that directs you to it app for support plays this recording, “Please be aware that cash app employees are often impersonated by scammers circulating fake phone number online.”
We are always working to protect our customers, which includes educating them about phishing scams. As a reminder, the Cash App team will never ask customers to send them money, nor will they solicit a customer’s PIN or sign-in code outside of the app. If you believe you have fallen victim to a scam, you should contact Cash App support through the app or website immediately. For more information on common online scams, please visit https://cash.app/help/us/en-us/6482-recognize-scams.
As for Harrison, he’s no using Cash App for his business.
“It was a bad experience,” he said.
The BBB said the best way to protect yourself from money transfer scams is to only send money to people you know, link money transfers to a credit card, and never send money using public WIFI. If you think you’ve been scammed, the BBB encourages you to report it.
You can report ad check out other scams online here.
No problems so far.
Did a Nigerian prince translate this article?
If they ask you to pick the option it's a fried transaction, instead of a business transaction, don't do it. They claim it is so they don't have to pay a fee, but it leaves you unable to get your money back.
I know someone who lost $1000 as a deposit, trying to rent a property. They never got the money back.
His valet.
I cant wait to call the phone number. Maybe i’ll get a DNC hack on her lunch hour.
Thanks. I guess two cash apps are enough.
I’ve used PayPal for years, possibly thousands of times. I’ve never had a problem or glitch.
Paypal loves to hold my credit cards. I do manual entry because I get high cash virtual credit cards to pay for getting impounded cars out. Paypal loves to hold those 2-3k charges for a month before releasing them. Using their card reader, no issues. but due to the above, I am back to using Square, which has been zero fuss the entire time we’ve ran it. Venmo I’ve used sparingly, but no issues there. My sister and I send cash through Zelle quite often, and yet to see issues there either.
I’ve used Venmo for years. The only reason I signed up with Pay Pal is that it’s the only cash app for FReepathons.
PayPal is IMO the most hacked platform there has ever been. Avoid it like the plague.
This is what PayPal was reduced to in the Spring Covid shutdown. No live chat and phone was useless. I suppose it is improved now.
Same here.
Do most of my charitable giving via that platform.
The BBB is a waste of oxygen.
Elon Musk’s first company.
Making electronic transactions is always a gamble, which is why I view electronic transactions the same way I view pregnancy and syphilis. Abstinence works every time it is tried.
Compared to a credit card or a standard checking account and debit card, what exactly is the advantage of using a money transfer app?
I will guess lower fees and/or electronic financial access for people who have credit or banking issues?
Thanks for clearing this up!
“No problems so far.”
That’s what all victims say before the hammer drops.
Anyone chooses high risk by using their mobile device for banking attached to a primary account(s) and high-limit card(s) deserve what they get, as that ‘online banking 101’ advice is readily available to anyone willing to see & heed it.
Personally, I use NO MOBILE APPS WHATSOEVER and reserve any online banking solely for emergency purposes only...which have yet to materialize.
As such, my risk is zero.
I noticed the mistakes too... often a tip-off of a scam.
X.com online bank was Musk’s company. Merged with Peter Thiel’s Confinity Inc. which sported the easy payment system. Merged company renamed as PayPal.
Musk served as CEO for less than a year. Fought a pitched battle with other board members, got removed as CEO while on vacation. The largest stakeholder, he cashed out his holdings when eBay bought the company.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.