

They just need to convince their victims to do what they want them to do, and often in the most creative ways. Scammers don’t need advanced knowledge about programming or hacking. Scams are, perhaps, the most common pitfalls of using payment apps such as Venmo. The fact that scammers use Venmo to trick people doesn’t necessarily make Venmo unsafe. Important Note: Venmo is a payment app, and as such, the risks that come with using it are similar to the risks that come with using any payment app. We’re talking about scams and fraud committed through the app by cybercriminals. That being said, there are associated risks, and while these risks may not originate from the payment app itself, the consequences may directly affect Venmo users. Generally, we can say that your funds with Venmo are safe. Even the fact that it lets users lock their apps with a personal identification number (PIN) or use multi-factor authentication shows that security is important to Venmo. It continuously upgrades its application programming interface (API) for secure facilitation of transactions. It uses encryption to safeguard stored personal and financial information. On one hand, Venmo is safe because it has measures in place to protect your funds and privacy. The answer is more complicated than we initially thought. So, is Venmo safe? Is Venmo Safe? The Two Sides of the Same Coin That makes Venmo doubly risky, and exactly the reason we’ve taken time to research and review how safe Venmo really is. Social media apps are known for being privacy risks, and payment apps are often targets of cybercriminals, hackers, and scammers. However, while it offers the best of both worlds, there’s a chance it can also offer the worst. With its features, you can think of Venmo as a social media app and payment app in one. Footing the bill for a friend’s cappuccino purchase? Send the fund request with a coffee emoji as a playful gesture! At the same time, it adds ways to jazz up an otherwise boring experience. It lets you transfer funds, make cashless payments, or divvy up bills among you and your friends. To report a digital wallet fraud case, click here.Venmo is basically a peer-to-peer payment app with a social aspect. “But just like a deadbolt, having a good deadbolt on your door is a great way to make life a lot harder for a burglar.”Īnother regular, and basic preventative measure: Change your passwords. “It’s not going to be foolproof,” said Underwood.

Underwood said multi-factor authentication, or two-factor authentication, is the best way. That means setting up the app to text or call your phone in order to grant access to the account. In total, 513 Floridians have fallen victim to crimes like this. So how can you protect yourself? Whether this is how all digital wallet fraud crimes are committed, that’s just too hard to tell. However, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has seen a 210 percent increase in digital wallet complaints since the pandemic began in March 2020. “It’s actually more effective to know your email (password) than it is to know your Venmo password,” he said.
#VENMO SECURITY BREACH 2020 PASSWORD#
The email is the key that the hackers need to change your password and ultimately drain your bank account. “You the victim, will never see the email,” said Underwood. This is the important part, with emails from Venmo or other digital wallets going to the spam folder. Crooks will use the “Forgot My Password” feature to send a reset link to your email. “They’ll make all of those emails go to spam.” “They will set up a filter to move important emails from your bank or from Venmo or some other important financial tool,” said Underwood. Once they’re into your email, this is where the work begins.
