Scam text messages, which are smishing attacks designed to steal personal information and infect victims’ devices with malware, are the United States’ top threat in terms of phone scams. Text scammers stole an estimated $13 billion from Americans in the first half of 2023, and their ploys become more prevalent and sophisticated every year. One common method they use is to impersonate payment apps like Venmo.
Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself from the financial loss and mental trauma that can accompany scams like these. Read ahead to learn what Venmo text scams are and how you can avoid their tricks.
Venmo text scams are fraudulent text messages sent by scammers who disguise themselves as Venmo in an effort to steal your information or download malware onto your mobile device. They may claim there’s an account problem that needs to be fixed or a reward you can accept by following a link and inputting your information. In reality, your data goes right to the scammers, and the link may have downloaded malware to your device.
Venmo scams are especially dangerous because they target your money directly. Scammers may also use your information to break into other accounts, open new lines of credit, or steal your identity.
Scam texts have become the most dangerous type of phone scam, and those involving payment apps have become increasingly common. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we pay, and as contactless payment became more popular, scammers found a way to profit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), victims of Venmo scams lose $700 on average (second to Zelle scams), making Venmo one of the top targets for scammers who pose as payment apps.
Venmo text scams can cost victims significant amounts of money, which can prevent families from paying their bills or putting food on the table. These scams can also have a psychological impact, as the invasion of privacy can be extremely unsettling, even if no money was lost. As government agencies continue to devise a solution, they warn the public about prevalent scams and encourage extra caution when using payment apps.
Venmo text scams take many different forms, and recognizing them is vital to protecting your privacy, security, and finances. Get to know these common types of Venmo text message scams so you know what to watch out for.
Venmo text scams involve scammers disguising themselves as Venmo in some capacity. Venmo sends text messages from the short code 86753, but savvy scammers spoof this number to convince targets the message is legitimate. Texting from what looks like the real short code, scammers use all kinds of tactics to elicit personal information they can sell or use to steal from their victims. The real Venmo will never ask for sensitive data via text.
In a fake survey scam, the fraudster sends a text asking you to fill out a survey for the chance (or guarantee) to win money. The text includes a link that sends you to a spoofed version of the Venmo website and requests login credentials, credit card details, and other sensitive information. Hackers can use this information to access not only your Venmo account but possibly your other financial accounts as well.
If you receive a text claiming you’ve won a contest, giveaway, or sweepstake, your first thought should always be, “Did I enter one?” If you didn’t enter to win, you definitely didn’t win. Scammers might claim you’ve won a prize for being a longtime Venmo user or winning a random giveaway, including a link where you can supposedly log in and accept your prize. These prizes don’t exist, and the link either sends you to a spoofed website or downloads malware to your device.
Watch out for any offers that sound too good to be true because they generally are. If you respond, you could end up losing much more than you thought you were gaining. Some Venmo scam texts are classic pyramid schemes, inviting you to spend a small amount of money to get a larger sum back, usually through an investment or a loan. Unfortunately, there is no return payment, and the scammer steals your financial information.
It can be easy to forget about your Venmo balance when you regularly use several different financial accounts, but the balance reflected in your app is generally accurate. Scammers might text you about unclaimed money in your account, instructing you to follow the link to confirm the transaction. However, this is not something Venmo will ever do. If you’re concerned your balance is inaccurate or a transaction hasn’t gone through, contact Venmo directly.
Some particularly crafty scammers research targets and their social circles. If you receive an unexpected Venmo payment or request from someone you know, always check with them to make sure they sent it. It could be a scammer who changed their name and picture to match a family member’s account, posing as someone with whom you regularly exchange money.
In other cases, you may get Venmo payments from strangers who don’t disguise themselves as family. Instead, they pretend the payment was an accident and ask you to send the money back. If this happens, contact Venmo directly instead of engaging in a transaction with a stranger. This could be part of a larger scam in which the scammer pays you using a stolen credit card, effectively stealing from two targets at once.
This type of Venmo fraud pretends your account has had unusual sign-in activity, like too many sign-in attempts or a login from an unusual location or new device. Like in tech-support scams, the scammer texts you a link and tells you to input your credentials to reset your password or otherwise verify your account. Instead, the information you type in goes right to the scammer.
There are a few reasons Venmo might contact you through text message or email, such as to confirm your account, send you receipts, and update you on new comments or friend requests — all of which you have to sign up for. They will never ask for personal or financial information like your login credentials, bank account number, or PIN through text or email.
If you have text notifications on, you’ll get automated text messages from Venmo for things like:
When you know how to recognize a Venmo scam text, you’re much less likely to fall for the scam. Learn about the common red flags that appear among all kinds of scam texts and catch them before they can trick you.
Venmo contacts its users via the short code 86753 or email addresses that end in venmo.com, but even short codes can be spoofed by scammers. Never use Venmo to send money to — or even accept money from — someone you don’t know.
As long as you know what to look for and take your time, you can generally recognize a scam text by analyzing the content. Look for strange or foreign characters (like â, ę, œ) in the body of the text and hyphens in links. Consider whether the alert makes sense given your recent financial history, and use the Venmo app to check if you’re signed up for text message notifications.
Like other types of phone scams, Venmo scam texts often come from foreign senders whose first language isn’t English. These types of scam texts may contain spelling and grammar errors you wouldn’t see in a legitimate text from a well-known American company like Venmo.
If you’ve received a suspicious text that claims to be from Venmo, don’t wait to let them know. Contact Venmo through the app or another legitimate channel before responding to the text, and never click the link in an unexpected text message unless you’ve confirmed that you know and trust the sender.
Many Venmo scam texts are easy to spot because they are simply not how Venmo operates.
Venmo does not ask for personal or payment information via text message. If you get a text that claims to be from Venmo and asks for sensitive data such as your Social Security number, debit card information, or PIN, you should delete and report the text as well as block the sender.
Under no circumstances will you get a legitimate text message from Venmo that threatens to cancel or suspend your account. These are tactics scammers use to create a sense of urgency and encourage you to act quickly before you realize you’re being scammed.
Anyone might receive a Venmo scam text, even those who don’t use Venmo. If you receive a suspicious text that claims to be from Venmo, taking the right steps can save you from the financial loss and psychological damage associated with scam texts.
Here’s what to do if you receive a Venmo scam text:
Some of our private information tends to be less private than we think, and there are a number of ways scammers can get hold of it. They may purchase stolen data on the dark web, dial phone numbers at random, or scour the Internet for details about their targets. Avoid listing data like email addresses and phone numbers on social media profiles, and never give away personal information to those you don’t know and trust — especially via text message.
As dangerous as Venmo scam calls and texts can be, there are ways you can help keep scammers off your phone and your phone number off their radar.
Venmo is aware that imposters use them as a disguise for their scams, but there is little they can do to prevent it — or to help victims get their money back. You can contact Venmo online or on the app to submit a request to open a dispute, but it’s unlikely you’ll recoup the money you lost, even in the case of fraud.
Venmo advises people to use their service only among trusted family, friends, and colleagues, as there are limited protections for buyers and sellers. They recommend only making purchases through Venmo if the seller has a Venmo-approved business account; if you must pay someone’s personal account, mark the payment as a purchase.
Venmo isn’t the only service being used as a disguise for payment text scams: Zelle and PayPal scams are rampant as well. Watch out for other imposter scam texts that claim to be from well-known companies like:
Venmo text scams are dangerous scams that use your Venmo account to steal personal and financial information and, ultimately, your money. The more common they get, the more important it is to understand what they are and how to protect yourself. Fortunately, spam-blocking apps like Robokiller prevent scam texts from ever even reaching your phone.
Robokiller’s unique features, years of experience, and trusted spam call-blocking algorithm make it the top choice for staying protected from Venmo text scams. Our app is 99% effective in blocking robocalls and scam texts, preventing over $600 million in estimated losses to phone scams to-date.
Venmo sometimes does send out text messages, but never to ask for personal information. They may send certain types of receipts and notifications, but only if you’ve opted in for them.
Venmo only texts users who have opted in to text notifications. Aside from the initial message they send to verify the account phone number, Venmo only texts its users the receipts they’ve signed up for. Venmo sends texts from its 86753 short code and emails from addresses ending in venmo.com.
If you receive a text message that claims to be from Venmo but seems suspicious, don’t answer or follow any links. Instead, call Venmo’s customer service line at 1 (855) 812-4430, email them at support@venmo.com, or contact them through the app to determine if the message was a scam.
The best way to protect yourself from all text scams is to download a dedicated spam blocker like Robokiller that can keep dangerous scams from making it to your phone in the first place. If you do get a Venmo text scam, refrain from responding or tapping any links. Block the sender, delete the message, and report it to the authorities.
Unfortunately, Venmo generally does not refund money when there are disputes between users, even in the case of a scam. Getting your money back after a scam can be extremely difficult, which is why it’s crucial to use a spam blocker to avoid scam texts entirely.
