Don’t be fooled by these wicked apps for Venmo, Cash and Zelle

The cheaters are endlessly creative. From Toll Road Texts To “do not specify the package signals”, it seems that there is a new scheme every day to be careful about. But thieves also direct you by a method that may not raise so red flags: Digital Payments ApplicationsS

Applications like Zelle, Venmo, Cash App and PayPal make it easier to send money to others. By clicking a button, your money has disappeared – and it can be almost impossible to return it if you send it to a cheater.

Customers in three banks have lost over $ 870 million for Zelle fraud since it started in 2017, according to a lawsuit brought by Consumer Financial Protection BureauS Banking Giant JpMorgan Chase will soon be Block certain Zelle transactions In the hope of preventing fraud, but it is also for you to keep your money safe.

Read to learn the most common fraud with digital payments, so it’s less likely to fall for one.

9 General Frauds with Digital Payment Applications

The containers can be creative, but most digital payments fraud fall into the following categories.

💰 Cash fraud

You get DM from someone on Instagram or another social media platform with an attractive offer: “Send me $ 100 and I will use an app partnership to turn it into $ 500 in days.” Sounds too good to be true? This is because it is. No one, especially a stranger on the Internet, can exponentially increase your money immediately.

🎣 Phishing

You receive an email from someone who claims to work in a mobile payment app asking you to click on a link and update your information to upgrade your account or to accept a payment. This is a standard phishing expedition, a fraud that lures people to share sensitive information with someone they consider to be a reliable source.

If you click on the connection, your phone can be infected with malware that distracts your account. Never click on an email connection request for login or other personal data, even if it looks legal. Contact customer service through the payment application to confirm the request.

🛋 Fake fraudulent sale of items

You browse a site like Craigslist for a new sofa and find what looks like an incredible deal. When you contact the seller, they tell you that it is first to come, first served, and if you really want the goods, you have to pay now without even seeing the sofa in person.

If you send the money through a digital payment application, you run the risk of the seller disappearing with it and you will hit you, sitting on the floor without a new sofa. Sales of fake items are particularly tempting if the item is rare or expensive, such as a collector or a car. Never pay for unprecedented views of the product, even if the deal seems too attractive to give up.

🎟 Counterfeit

You want to see Taylor Swift and notice some surprisingly low -cost tickets in an online market. But they may not get you to the show. Stick to a reputable secondary ticket as a StubHub or Ticketmaster service for resale. Tickets may be expensive, but they will be legal.

📱 Software Glitch fraud

You get an email stating that you need to download a new version of a payment application to keep your software updated. The link takes you to a website that looks like a service provider and enter your username and password. The problem is that there is no new version of the app. Instead, the scammer just took your details and now has access to your account.

To keep your app updated with the latest software, visit the App Store on your phone and manually download all available updates or activate automatic updates.

🏚 Deposit fraud

Finding a new apartment can be stressful, especially in competitive real estate markets. But as attractive as a list may seem, you should never send money to “book” a place before you see it. If you transfer money through a payment application based solely on an online list, the apartment is likely to be available when you show it to see it.

🏆 Fraud for claims for rewards

Digital payment services will never contact you to say that you were able to win a prize that you didn’t even know existed. Do not click on the link to request your prize because your fake profits will be a real loss. The scammer can be able to steal your account data or infect your mobile device with malware.

💸 Random

You get a payment from someone you don’t know. Then someone contacts you, saying that the payment is a mistake and ask you to return the money.

Like the good person you are, you send the stranger back their means. However, these funds may have been stolen first, using a foreign credit card or bank account. Contact your bank first to determine the best course of action and avoid becoming a part of the fraud maze.

Не Romantic scam

Bumping services like Bumble, Tinder and Match can lead you to something much worse than a bad first date: Imposter, who pretends to be in love with you, but is really in love with your chance to steal your money.

If you meet someone online and turn your digital courtship, don’t send them money to cover travel expenses to visit you or pay for an emergency cost. If the relationship is real, it will not depend on your desire to send funds to someone you have not met in person.

How to avoid fraud in mobile payments apps

You do not need to stop completely using P2P applications to avoid losing money. These services can be convenient and cost -effective ways to send and receive funds. You just have to be vigilant to monitor your account for any suspicious activity and use common sense. These tips can help.

• Don’t send money to strangers. Limit payments to a person to persons you actually know. Use these apps to pay off your friends, send money to family members, or pay for products and services from reliable business owners. Avoid using them to transfer money to strangers.
• Do not click on links in texts or emails. Unreamed messages asking your information are usually trying to phishing. Use the customer service option in the app to contact the company directly and confirm the request.
• Use a security lock. Locking the application protection Use a four -digit pin or scan your fingerprint or face to prove that you are really initiating a payment. Even if someone steals your phone and opens the app, this additional security measure does not allow access to your account.
• Check the sender’s email addresses. Scammers often rely on tricks that can go through a quick look, such as using an email address that ends in “Zellaep.com” or “Venmoservice.com”. If you are not sure if the sender is really the service you use, enter the app directly to talk to customer service.
• Watch out for everything that looks urgent. The scammers create a sense of panic to make you act before you think. If you receive an emergency warning, such as an email that says your account will be closed, if you do not update your information, take a deep breath and look at it more closely.
• Keep your account for safety account. Create a strong application for the application using a mix of letters, numbers and special characters from the upper and lowercase letters. Do not use the same login credentials for different accounts. And avoid distributing your email address or phone number that scammers can use to decipher additional information about you.
• Consider unlocking your bank account from the app. If you are really worried about the potential for fraudulent activity, you can exclude your bank account from the application. This will make and send money more challenging, but it can provide extra peace of mind.

What to do if you come across a digital payment fraud

If you suspect that you have fallen for a digital payment application, contact your app and your financial institution immediately. There is no guarantee that you can recover your stolen funds, but your bank may be ready to intervene and help. You can also file a complaint to Federal Commercial Commission and FBI Internet Crime Complaints CenterS