Fake Cash App Scams on Facebook Messenger

Mobile payment application use is rising thanks to their seamless integration with social media platforms, financial institutions, and e-commerce storefronts. Mobile payment apps offer users ultimate financial convenience, with some allowing them to send or spend money, review bank accounts, and watch the growth of stocks all in one place. Add these applications’ integration to social media’s connectivity, and users can use, save, and share their wealth faster than ever.

However, complete financial convenience and simultaneous social connectivity aren’t for everyone. In 2023, $1.4 billion were lost to scams that began on social media like Facebook; that equates to one out of every four people being fooled by opportunistic scammers, with a median loss of around $500 per person per scheme.

Cash App Scams on Facebook Messenger, are among the most destructive scams in the cyber world, not because they pull in the highest revenue (although they do when mixed with impersonation schemes) but because they work. More than half of the public is unsure of the signs of scams and misinformation, so anyone could fall victim to a social media scam—especially if the malicious actor does their homework.

This content will provide information on how these scammers operate, the calling cards of these actors, and preventative measures to protect yourself from the potential financial losses of the online threats we face every day.

What is Cash App?

Cash App is one of the world’s most prominent mobile payment services, hosting over 70 million active users in 2021. It is extremely popular because of its all-in-one approach to financial maintenance. Initially launched as a peer-to-peer service provider, the application has grown significantly. It allows users to manage their stocks and Bitcoin treasures, file taxes, and obtain specialty credit and debit cards through financial institutions.

Due to Cash App’s success, it’s also found an ever-growing audience of scammers, cybercriminals, and bad-faith opportunists. Cash App scams are rising, with authentic users being more exposed, trusting, and naive thanks to the connectivity awarded by social media—and Facebook Messenger.

How does Cash App Work?

Cash App allows users to create accounts via their mobile devices; such account creation allows users to verify their identity, presumably restricting bad actors from fraudulent account creations. After making an account, users connect their financial institutions to the new account. Because the account links to their phone, they can see and manage everything within their accounts without signing into the service provider.

Cash App is a particularly convenient service because it offers more functionality than other payment platforms, all within the convenience of a single phone app:

• Send money instantly in peer-to-peer transactions.
• Spend money and receive savings on everyday necessities.
• Manage money in all financial accounts using one platform.
• Buy, invest, and sell stocks with Cash App’s stocks and Bitcoin manager.
• Fill and file taxes for free and receive the maximum refund available.
• Open sponsored accounts for people 13-17 years old—they even get a card.

How Safe is Cash App? 

Cash App is one of the most secure mobile payment platforms available, starting with their exclusivity to user’s phones. By the nature of mobile payment platforms, users have increased safety rates based on the physical limitations of access; in other words, unless the malicious actor has your phone, they aren’t very likely to take advantage of a Cash App account—at least not without additional information in hand (i.e., access to your email).

Cash App has an arsenal of security features that protect its users from external threats, but not every feature is automatically enabled. Consequently, although Cash App is safe for financial management and payments, account holders must still consider the daily online threats they face. Data encryption, PIN protection, biometric settings, and notifications all play significant roles in the continued safety of a user’s account.

Encryption

Unlike other mobile payment applications, Cash App offers complete encryption protocols for all data transmission and storage. This means that even if users connect their phones to public Wi-Fi, they can still use Cash App as if they were on a secure network (like the one they have at home).

Cash App’s encryption abilities give it significant internet security. Their encryption policies stop threat actors from accessing or reading data as it moves from its starting point to a destination, giving all users more peace of mind while ensuring convenience.

PIN and Sign-In Protections

Although Cash App has unrivaled encryption security, users must still be careful of their account’s accessibility. Cash App’s platform assumes a significant amount of security based on the user staying with or close to their phone at all times. Users who don’t implement locking features on their cell phones are always at risk for financial abuse, particularly if their phone is stolen or accessed without permission.

However, most users cannot surveil their phones at all hours of the day, and even if they could, they’d still need additional processes to verify particular actions in the account, like peer-to-peer transactions. Enabling PIN codes (typically four to six digits picked by the user) and sign-in protections for accessing the application are two of the best ways to secure a user’s account—regardless of whether they lock their phone.

Biometric Settings

PINs and sign-in protections aren’t the only account security options on the Cash App; users can also implement biometric settings. Unlike PINs and sign-in passwords, which malicious parties can guess or steal, biometric settings cannot be faked or manipulated—unless the user is asleep.

The Cash App’s biometric settings include fingerprint and facial recognition. These settings enhance security while allowing for easy identity verification before completing transactions. However, the account holder must allow the Cash App to read and record biometric data about the user to use these settings. 

Notifications

Cash App uses encryption to protect users’ connections, PINs, and sign-in passwords to protect an account’s accessibility and biometric options to confirm a user’s identity; it also treats notifications as a first line of defense against unauthorized activity.

Returning to the notion that Cash App users are primarily close to their phones, if a bad actor did somehow access a user’s account and that user did not have a PIN or biometric protection in place, there would be no stopping the threat from moving the user’s financials around as they wanted. Moreover, users would be unaware of the threat unless notifications were enabled to alert them to account activity.

Common Types of Cash App Scams on Facebook Messenger

Even if users enable all the securities possible on Cash App, they could still find themselves in trouble—not because of the platform, but because of online threat actors. Every time we access social media, there is a chance we might speak to or interact with a malicious agent, and unless we know what signs to look for, we might find ourselves the victim of a complex financial scheme.

Fake Cash App scams could appear on any social platform, but  cash app scams on Facebook Messenger is particularly susceptible to online threat activities. Messenger scams can take many forms, from fake payment requests (i.e. PayPal Scams) to bogus investment opportunities. The most significant of these schemes are phishing attacks , fraudulent emergencies, and, the most destructive of all, impersonations of friends and relatives.

Phishing Scams

Mobile phishing scams come in many varieties, but they all have a common denominator: the threat actor sends a message to their potential victim and attempts to obtain certain information or assets, such as money.

On Facebook Messenger, scammers might send direct messages (DMs) to an individual looking to steal login credentials for other platforms like Cash App; they might pose as Facebook friends (or take over a friend’s account) and request assistance with authentication codes or ask about the answers of security questions for specific accounts.

Impersonation and Fake Emergency Scams

Other scammers could use a person’s emotion or empathy to obtain what they want. For example, in romantic scams, scammers can impersonate famous people, tricking the average person into complying with their requests. Others might create fake emergencies, pushing non-existent time pressure on their potential victims.

Users must be cautious of these threats on Facebook Messenger, as the “right” victim can hand over thousands of dollars without ever knowing someone tricked them. Even worse, with the Cash App’s instant movement between accounts, a victim might send all their money without taking a moment to think through the scenario presented by the scammer. These scams only work when the potential victim gets manipulated into acting immediately.

Recognizing the Signs of a Scam

After learning the signs of a scam, individuals are less likely to fall for them in their everyday lives and on social media. Many signs might tip someone off that a situation is unsafe. Still, cybercriminals are developing new tactics every day—that means users must continue to learn about the threats they face, even if they can already tell the difference between a message from a friend and a message from a threat.

Signs of potential Cash App scams on Facebook include:

• Unsolicited payment requests and messages with attachments or links. Threat actors might send messages from a friend’s account or their own in the hopes that their potential victim doesn’t notice that the request is from a stranger. Some criminals might add attachments to the message, too, and once clicked, a malicious infection could spread to the device.
• High-pressure, time-limited, or emotionally charged messages. When something goes wrong, most people quickly offer assistance, and scammers take advantage of this empathy. Many scams rely on the potential victim not taking the time to verify who they are talking to, which opens the door for financial abuse.
• Messages with grammatical errors or inconsistencies. Many scammers are not native English speakers (or writers), and messages can often betray their scheming plots. They might use unusual phrases or word choices to seem native, but more sophisticated threats might purposely include these errors to “weed out” those who already know the signs of a scam.

Protecting Yourself from Cash App Scams 

• Verify the identity of a sender before committing to their request. Never unquestioningly accept requests for money or money randomly sent to your Cash App account. Always verify the identity of the person you’re speaking to, even if it means missing out on a time-sensitive deal.
• Never share personal or financial information online or with others. No one needs to know who you bank with or the name of your first pet; if someone requests personal Identifiable information like this, communicate with them cautiously. Scammers can be more deceiving than they may first appear.
• Use Cash App’s PIN entry, two-factor authentication, and biometrics. It’s unlikely that a threat actor would obtain access to your phone, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t access your account another way. Use Cash App’s built-in defenses to protect your financials and information best, two-factor authentication or biometric data security.

Reporting and Recovering from Scams 

If you’ve fallen victim to a Cash App scammer via Facebook Messenger, there are two ways to make a report. Make sure to submit both reports to get the best chances of retribution. It’s also important to note that Cash App may not offer recourse for some situations, such as peer-to-peer transactions; however, phone support is available every day from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM ET at 1-(800)-969-1940.

To report a fraudulent payment on Cash App, tap the profile icon in the top right corner. Next, tap “Support” and select “Report a payment issue.” Pick the payment you want to report and follow the prompts.

To report a fraudster on Facebook Messenger, open the chat of the user you want to report. Once inside the conversation, tap their profile icon in the top left. Scroll down to the “Report” option, and follow the prompts as they appear. Tap “Submit Report” when finished.

Cash App is among the most popular and widely used mobile payment platforms in the United States; it offers the convenience of all a user’s accounts in one place, with almost complete manageability. However, this ease of use makes it a significant target for online threats looking for a fast revenue stream. But, by utilizing Cash App’s account protections and learning about the threats we all face online, everyone can be better prepared for the day they are sent a suspicious message—particularly on social media.

Want to learn more about the threats we all face when we go online? Check out our other articles on Sentinel;  they cover cybersecurity insights, bait-and-switch scams, password security, and more.