Venmo scams: fake payment emails and screenshots explained
Quick answer
If someone says they've paid you on Venmo but you can't see the payment in the app, it's a scam. Venmo only emails from an address ending in venmo.com. Check your balance in the app, never ship or refund based on an email or screenshot.
- Comes by
- Email, Text, App, Social media
- Pretends to be
- Venmo
- Last updated
How it works
Venmo's help centre warns about scammers who send screenshots of fake emails that make it look like they paid you when no payment was made. They then ask you to ship an item, return an 'overpayment', or pay a fee to release funds.
Other versions: a fake email says a balance needs confirming, or a scammer copies the name and photo of someone you know or a business you might buy from. A fake support number can be put in a payment note. Venmo says it will only email you from an address ending in venmo.com.
Red flags
- An email or screenshot saying you've been paid, but nothing in the Venmo app
- A request to ship an item or refund 'extra' money before the payment clears
- An email from an address that doesn't end in venmo.com
- A support number in a payment note or email
- A request for a fee to release money
Example message
Payment sent! I've paid you $450 for the item. Venmo says it's pending until you send the shipping label. Here's the email confirmation. Can you ship today?
What to do
- 1
Check the Venmo app
Open the app yourself and look at your balance and transactions. If the payment isn't there, it wasn't made.
- 2
Don't ship, refund or pay a fee
Hold the item and don't send money back until the payment shows in your account.
- 3
Don't call numbers from a message
Use Venmo's help centre to contact support.
- 4
If you sent money or details, act
Contact Venmo and your bank, change your password and turn on two-step verification. Our guide on what to do after a data breach covers the steps.
- 5
Report it
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
Scammers don't pick numbers and addresses at random. Names, phone numbers, home addresses and email addresses are easy to buy from people-search sites and data brokers, and they leak in breaches, which lets a caller or sender sound like they know you. Serus finds where your details are listed and removes them from the sites that hold them, and alerts you when your data shows up in a breach, so fewer scammers can reach you.
More Venmo scams
Frequently asked
How do I know Venmo really emailed me?
Venmo says it will only email you from an address ending in venmo.com. Even then, check the app.
Can a screenshot prove I was paid?
No. Venmo warns that scammers send screenshots of fake emails to look like they paid.
Someone sent me too much money and wants a refund. Should I send it?
Check the app first. If the payment isn't there, don't refund anything.
Is Venmo itself a scam?
No. Venmo is a real service. Scammers pretend to be Venmo or to pay through it.
Sources
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