Payment app scams (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App)

Sending money by app is like handing over cash: once you send it to a scammer, it's hard to get back. Only pay people you know, double-check who you're sending to, never "send money to yourself" because a caller said so, and report fast if it goes wrong.

What to know

1. Know why scammers want app payments. Once you send money to them, it's hard to get it back. Zelle says it's made for paying friends, family, co-workers and others you trust.
2. Lock the app. Turn on a PIN or multi-factor authentication, and never give your sign-in details to anyone who contacts you.
3. Check the name before you hit send. Double-check the recipient's information so the money goes to the right person. A typo in a phone number can send money to a stranger.
4. Never pay to collect a prize. Don't send a payment to claim a prize or sweepstakes winnings.
5. Call before you pay a "friend" in trouble. Scammers pretend to be a loved one in an emergency. If a request is unexpected, talk to the person directly to make sure it's really them and not someone who hacked their account.
6. Hang up on "your bank" asking you to move money. If a caller says there's fraud and you must send money to yourself or to a "safe" account to stop it, it's a scam. Hang up and call the number on the back of your card.
7. Move your balance to your bank. Money people send you lands in your app balance first. FDIC insurance generally doesn't cover money sitting in a payment app, so moving it to an insured bank or credit union account is the simple fix.