Venmo fraud prevention calls and texts: how to spot the fake
Quick answer
A call or text from "Venmo fraud prevention" that asks for the code sent to your phone, or tells you to send money to "secure" your account, is a scam. Venmo says it never asks for that code. Hang up, open the Venmo app yourself and use its chat to check.
- Comes by
- Phone call, Text, Email
- Pretends to be
- Venmo
- Last updated
How it works
Scammers pretend to be Venmo's fraud or security team. Venmo's own help center describes the most common version: the scammer tries to sign in to your account, Venmo sends a verification code to your phone, and then the scammer calls you, claims there are unauthorized transactions, and asks you to read the code back "to verify your identity". That code is what lets them in.
Venmo lists other versions of the same pitch:
- A text with a link that imitates Venmo's sign-in or code screen, built to capture your password.
- A caller who says they set up a new account for you and need you to log in to it.
- A request to send money to another account to "verify" or "protect" your account.
- A request to install an app or give them remote access to your phone.
What they want is access to your account and the money in it, or the personal details you type into a fake page.
Red flags
- Someone calls or texts about "unauthorized transactions" you didn't see
- Anyone asking you to read out a verification code sent to your phone
- A text with a link, claiming to be Venmo's sign-in or security check
- A request to send money to another account to verify or protect yours
- A request to install an app or share your screen
- Pressure to act right now before your account is frozen
Example message
This is Venmo fraud prevention. We've detected unauthorized transactions on your account. To confirm you're the owner, read us the 6-digit code we just sent to your phone, or log in at [link] to secure your account.
What to do
- 1
Don't call back or click
Don't use the number or link in the message. Open the Venmo app yourself, or go to Me > Settings > Get Help > Chat With Us, as Venmo's help center describes.
- 2
Never read out a verification code
Venmo says its agents never ask for the code sent to your phone. If you shared one, change your Venmo password right away and check your recent payments.
- 3
If money moved, contact Venmo and your bank
Tell Venmo support the date, amount and the username that got paid. Then call your bank or card issuer using the number on the back of your card.
- 4
Secure the accounts that share your details
If you gave out a password, change it everywhere you reuse it and turn on two-step verification. If you entered your Social Security number or card details on a fake page, see our guide on what to do after a data breach.
- 5
Forward fake emails to Venmo and delete them
Venmo's help center says to forward phishing emails as an attachment to the address it publishes there, then delete the original.
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 need your phone number and the name on your account before the call sounds credible. Those details are easy to find on people-search sites and in old breaches. Serus finds the people-search and data broker listings that show your phone number and address and removes them, and alerts you when your details turn up in a breach, so fewer scammers can build a believable story about you.
More Venmo scams
Frequently asked
Does Venmo have a fraud prevention number that calls customers?
Venmo's help center says its agents never ask for the verification code sent to your phone, never ask to access your device remotely and never ask you to send money to verify your account. If a caller does any of that, it isn't Venmo.
Does Venmo's real security text include a link?
Venmo says its multi-factor authentication message does not contain a link to click. A text with a link that claims to be that message is fake.
I gave someone my code. What now?
Change your Venmo password, review your recent payments and contact Venmo support through the app. Call your bank if money left a linked account.
Where do I report a fake Venmo message?
Forward emails to the address in Venmo's help center article and report texts and calls at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Sources
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll re-check it.
