Report a
Zelle, Cash App, or Venmo scam.
Payment apps were designed to send money to people you trust — not strangers. Scammers know that Zelle, Cash App, and Venmo transfers are nearly instant and almost impossible to reverse, making them the perfect tool for fraud. Whether it was a fake marketplace sale, a phishing text, or an impersonation call, report it here.
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How payment app scams work — and why banks won't help
Payment app scams have exploded as Zelle, Cash App, and Venmo have become ubiquitous. These peer-to-peer (P2P) payment platforms were designed for sending money to people you already know and trust — your roommate for rent, a friend for dinner. They were never designed for transactions with strangers, yet that's exactly how millions of people use them. The problem: transfers are nearly instant and, in most cases, completely irreversible.
The most common scam involves marketplace fraud. You find an item on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, or Craigslist. The seller asks for Zelle or Cash App payment. You send the money. The seller disappears. Your bank says the transfer was "authorized" because you initiated it, so no refund. This distinction between "authorized" and "unauthorized" transactions is the loophole banks use to deny reimbursement — even when you were clearly defrauded.
The Zelle "overpayment" scam
A buyer sends you a payment that appears to be more than agreed upon. You receive a text that looks like it's from Zelle saying the buyer has a "business account" and you need to upgrade yours by sending money. It's all fake — the original "payment" was never real, and the money you "return" goes straight to the scammer. Zelle and your bank will never ask you to send money to receive money.
What to do if you've been scammed
Contact your bank immediately and dispute the transaction — even though success rates are low, new CFPB guidance is pushing banks to cover more fraud scenarios. File reports here and with the FTC. Contact the payment app directly to report the scammer's account. For Cash App, go to the transaction and tap "Report"; for Zelle, contact your bank's fraud department; for Venmo, use the in-app support. Going forward, only use P2P apps to send money to people you know personally. For purchases from strangers, use PayPal Goods & Services or a credit card, which offer buyer protection.
Where else to report
File in multiple places to maximize impact:
- →Your bank — dispute the transaction — even if denied, it creates a paper trail
- →CFPB — consumerfinance.gov/complaint — the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau investigates payment app fraud
- →FTC — reportfraud.ftc.gov — for consumer fraud tracking
- →The payment app — report the scammer's account directly in Cash App, Zelle, or Venmo
Related scam types
Scammers often combine tactics. If this looks familiar, check these too: