How to force a refund on cash app

How To Get Money Back From Cash App if Scammed

• Refunds
• Steps To Take
• Avoiding Scams

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While many people act in good faith, there are plenty of con artists and scammers out there, too. According to the U.S. Federal Reserve, there were 2.8 million fraud reports across the country in 2021, with losses growing 70% year-over-year to $5.8 billion.

As scammers continue to look for new ways to get their hands on consumers’ hard-earned money, financial institutions are fighting back, providing ways for their customers to recoup that money. Filing a dispute with their credit card companies is one way consumers can get their money returned. But what about Cash App? Can Cash App users who are scammed get a refund? Read on to find out how to get money back on Cash App if you are scammed and tips for avoiding Cash App scams.

No, you cannot always get a refund for a fraudulent Cash App transaction. The Cash App team will investigate every disputed transaction, some resulting in a refund and others being denied. Unfortunately, some Cash App users who get scammed do not receive a refund. However, you may have the following options for getting your money back.

How To Get Your Money Back on Cash App if Scammed

If you’ve fallen victim to a scammer on Cash App, here are options you have for reporting the fraud and attempting to get a refund of the fraudulent charges:

1. Cancel the payment.
2. Request a refund.
3. Dispute the transaction.
4. Report the transaction as a scam.
5. Report the scam account.
6. Notify your bank of the fraud.
7. Freeze your credit.
8. Report the fraud to the government.

1. Cancel the Payment

Cash App transactions generally happen instantly and users typically can’t cancel them, but they do have the option to do so before a transaction is completed in rare cases. If you believe a pending transaction is fraudulent and want to try to cancel it:

1. Log in to Cash App.
2. Tap the clock icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen to view recent activity.
3. Locate the transaction you believe is fraudulent.
4. Tap the fraudulent transaction.
5. Look for a “Cancel” link. If there is no cancel link, Cash App has already finalized the transaction. Click the link if the option is available to cancel the transaction.

2. Request a Refund

If a transaction cannot be canceled, requesting a refund is the next course of action Cash App members have to get their money back. To do so:

1. Log in to your Cash App account.
2. Tap the clock icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen to view recent transactions.
3. Locate the transaction in question.
4. Tap the transaction.
5. Tap the “Refund” option.
6. Tap “OK.”

Cash App will send the refund request to the merchant once the process is complete. Unfortunately, fraudsters aren’t likely to be willing just to hand their stolen money back to their victims, and you may have to escalate the issue by disputing the transaction.   

3. Dispute the Transaction

Disputing a transaction is a way to coerce a merchant to return the money you paid if they can’t prove they’ve provided the product or expected service.

Users should only file disputes after they have attempted to contact the merchant, requested a refund through Cash App and failed to get a resolution. If that’s the case, follow the steps below to report the scam and dispute the transaction:

1. Log in to Cash App.
2. Tap on the clock icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen to view recent account activity.
3. Locate the fraudulent transaction and tap on it.
4. Tap the icon that looks like three small dots.
5. Tap on the “Need Help & Cash App Support” option.
6. Tap “Dispute Transaction.”

Once you’ve filed the dispute, the Cash App team will investigate the claim.

4. Report the Transaction To Cash App as a Scam 

If you’ve tried all of the previous options to get a refund on a fraudulent transaction, you can report the issue to Cash App.

1. Log in to Cash App.
2. Tap the profile icon.
3. Tap “Support.”
4. Tap “Report a Payment Issue.”
5. Select the fraudulent transaction and follow the prompts.

5. Report and Block the Scam Account

Sometimes a Cash App scam is associated with a potential scam account rather than a specific payment. You can report and block possible scam accounts as follows:

1. Log in to Cash App.
2. Search for the profile of the scam account.
3. View the profile and scroll to the bottom.
4. Tap on “Report” or “Block” and then follow the prompts.

6. Notify Your Bank of the Fraud

Any time you are a victim of fraud that involves your bank account or debit card, you should contact your bank. A bank representative can advise you on any action you should take to protect your account from further fraud and determine if you can file a dispute for the fraudulent transaction with the bank.

7. Put a Freeze on Your Credit

Not all Cash App fraud is limited to purchases and transactions. If a scammer has accessed your Cash App account, they may also have accessed your financial information. It can be a good idea to contact the major credit bureaus to freeze your credit. This will prevent a scammer from opening fraudulent accounts using your credit.

8. Report the Fraud to the Government

The Federal Trade Commission or the IC3 are two common ways to report fraud to the government. Both agencies will require information to identify the victim, the con artist and details of the fraudulent transaction.

What Can Be Done To Avoid Cash App Scams?

What’s more beneficial than knowing how to get money back on Cash App if scammed is knowing how to avoid scams.

There are several things users can do to avoid Cash App scams. To stay safe from scammers, you should:

• Avoid sending money to someone you don’t know.
• Double-check all information before sending money.
• Avoid sending money to someone who promises future products or services.
• Double-check the other person’s profile before sending money to ensure it’s going to the right recipient. 
• Stay current on the latest Cash App scams and learn how to avoid them.

Cash App includes optional security features like fingerprint scans, face identification and notifications. Users should take advantage of these features to reduce their chances of becoming fraud victims.

FAQ

It's common for fraud victims to have questions about the activity itself and how they can get their money back. Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.

• Will Cash App refund my money if I get scammed?
  • No, you cannot always get a refund for a fraudulent Cash App transaction. Scammed users should log in to their Cash App accounts, locate the fraudulent transaction and notify the platform by filing a dispute.
• What happens if I get scammed on Cash App?
  • What happens after a scam takes place on Cash App or otherwise is up to the victim. While some victims will ultimately accept the loss, they don't have to. Instead, they should follow the steps above to work toward getting their money back and reporting the scam to the proper authorities.
• Can someone hack your Cash App with your email?
  • Cash App offers multiple security features to help keep your account safe, and it's unlikely that anyone will be able to access an account without the account holder offering up sensitive information. Cash App users should take advantage of enhanced security features like face ID and fingerprint scans as well as push, email and text notifications, adding multiple layers of security to keep hackers out.
• How do I contact Cash App about a refund?
  • Anyone who needs Cash App support regarding a refund can contact Cash App by calling 1-800-969-1940, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST. Users can also contact support via the app using the chat feature.
• How long do Cash App refunds take to process?
  • Cash App refunds can take up to 10 business days to process.

Joshua Rodriguez contributed to the reporting for this article.

Information is accurate as of Oct. 12, 2022.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.