Scam library · Banking & payment apps · Kids & teens
Cash App scams: fake giveaways, support and payments
Cash App is fast and easy, which makes it a favorite of scammers. Three versions show up again and again: fake customer support, fake giveaways, and 'money flipping' promises.
All three end the same way: you send money or a code, and it's gone.
What the message looks like
From: @CashApp_Giveaways_Official (Instagram)
🎉 CONGRATS! You've been selected for today's $750 Cash App Friday!
To verify you're not a bot, send $25 to $CashFlipHelp and your $750 will be sent within 10 minutes. Offer expires in 1 hour!
How this scam works
Fake support: you search for help and call a number from a website or social post. The 'agent' asks for your sign-in code or PIN, or tells you to send a test payment. Cash App support is reached through the app or its official website.
Fake giveaways: an account claims 'Cash App Friday' or a celebrity is giving away money. You're told to send a small 'verification fee' to receive $500. Real giveaways don't charge you.
Money flipping: someone promises to turn $100 into $1,000. You send the $100, and they ask for 'fees' until you stop. It's a classic scam targeting young people on Instagram and TikTok. Since payment apps work like cash, the FTC warns that recovering money afterward is often hard.
Red flags
- A fee to receive a prize, refund or 'flip'.
- A support agent who calls you, or one you found through a web search or social media.
- Requests for your sign-in code, PIN or full card number.
- Promises to multiply money quickly.
- Accounts with 'official' in the name but few posts or recent creation.
How to tell it’s fake
- Only contact support from inside the app or the official website you type yourself.
- Look at the account behind a giveaway: real brands are verified and don't ask for fees.
- Remember the rule: anyone who promises to multiply your money fast is lying.
What to do if you clicked, paid or shared info
Don’t panic, and don’t blame yourself. These scams are built by professionals. Act quickly, one step at a time.
If you clicked a link or called back
- Block the account and report it in the app and on the social platform.
If you paid
- Contact Cash App support in the app, report the payment and your bank if a linked card was used. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you shared personal info, a password or a code
- If you gave a sign-in code or PIN, change your PIN, sign out other devices and turn on security lock.
Where to report and get help (U.S.)
If a message seems legit and you’re still not sure, get a second opinion before you act. Reporting helps stop scammers, even if money can’t be recovered. If you are in danger, call 911.
- Your bank or card issuer
Call the number on the back of your card or on your statement, not one from the message. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and to watch the account. - Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Report the scam and get a step-by-step recovery plan. - FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) · ic3.gov
Report scams that happened online, especially if money was lost. Include phone numbers, websites and payment details. - AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline · aarp.org helpline
Free, for anyone of any age: trained volunteers help you sort out next steps. 877-908-3360, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern. - IdentityTheft.gov · IdentityTheft.gov
If you shared your Social Security number or someone opened accounts in your name.
How Gmork Scam Guard would warn you
Scam Guard looks at the pages and messages you have open in Chrome or Edge on your computer, such as Instagram, Facebook or X on the web. It recognizes fake giveaway and money-flipping pitches and pages posing as payment app support, and explains why they're risky before you send anything. Teens see a lot of these, so it's worth setting up on a family computer too.
Scam Guard can miss things, so the checks above still matter. See what it warns about and what it keeps private.
Questions people ask
- Does Cash App call or text you for support?
- Use support inside the app or on the official website. Don't trust a support number from a search result or a social post.
- Is 'Cash App Friday' real?
- Cash App has run promotions on its official accounts, but none require you to send money first. Any fee request is a scam.
- Can Cash App reverse a payment I sent to a scammer?
- Sometimes, if you report it quickly, but it's not guaranteed. Report it in the app and to your bank.