Estafa en apps de pago (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): cómo funciona, señales y qué hacer
Payment fraud · médio
Apps such as Zelle, Venmo and Cash App make sending money instant, and that is exactly what scammers exploit. The FTC warns of three common approaches: someone poses as a friend or relative with an emergency; someone pretends to be from the app or your bank; or a scammer with access to your contacts poses as someone you have paid before.
In every case the goal is for the victim to send the money themselves. Because you authorized the transfer, getting it back is often difficult. The FTC's advice is to know exactly who is on the receiving end before you send anything.
Sinais / Signs
- An unexpected request for money, even from someone you know
- A supposed app or bank employee asking you to send money
- A familiar contact reaching you through an unusual channel
- Urgency to pay before you can confirm anything
- An unknown seller who only accepts payment through the app
Prevenção / Prevention
- Never send money to anyone you don't recognize
- Confirm the request using a phone number you already know is correct
- Be wary of any "support" that asks you to transfer money to fix a problem
- Review the app's permissions, such as access to your contacts
- Read your bank statements closely and regularly
O que fazer / What to do
- Ask the app company and your bank to reverse any transactions you didn't authorize
- Keep screenshots of the chat, the profile and the payment record
- Change the app password and turn on two-step verification
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
FAQ
I've paid this person before. Can I trust the request?
Not automatically. The FTC recommends confirming the request before you send money, even if you've paid that person through the app before.
Would my bank or the app ask me to send money?
A transfer request from someone claiming to be the app company or your bank is a warning sign flagged by the FTC.
FTC - Making mobile payments? Protect yourself from scams · FTC - ReportFraud