You open Venmo to split a dinner tab and there’s a random payment request from someone you’ve never heard of, with a note that says “you owe me.” Happens all the time now. Venmo scams have gotten creative — and once someone gets your money through the app, getting it back is a whole different fight.
Trusting every notification that pops up? Don’t.
This article will cover 12 ways to protect yourself from Venmo scams so you can actually use the app without worrying about someone draining your balance.
1. Never Send Money to Someone You Don’t Know Personally
The most basic rule, and the one people still break. If someone contacts you asking for a payment and you’ve never met them in person, don’t send it. Venmo was built to split costs between people who already know each other — it wasn’t designed for buying things from strangers, and the protections aren’t there if something goes wrong.
2. Turn On a PIN or Biometric Lock for Payments
If someone gets your phone unlocked, they can send your Venmo balance to themselves in seconds. Adding a PIN or fingerprint requirement before payments go through puts an extra wall between a thief and your money. Go to Settings → Privacy → Payment PIN and turn it on. Takes 30 seconds.
3. Keep Your Transactions Set to Private
Venmo’s default is to make your transaction history public. That means anyone can see who you’re paying and what the notes say. Scammers use this to figure out your habits, your contacts, and even your schedule. Go to Settings → Privacy and switch your default to “Private.” There’s no good reason to broadcast your payments.
4. Don’t Accept Payments From People You Don’t Recognize
This one trips people up. Someone sends you money you didn’t ask for, then messages asking you to send it back because it was a “mistake.” The original payment was made with a stolen credit card or fraudulent account. When Venmo reverses it (and they will), the money you sent back comes out of your own balance. If you get an unexpected payment, don’t touch it — contact Venmo support and let them sort it out.
5. Watch for Fake Venmo Emails and Texts
Phishing texts and emails pretending to be Venmo are everywhere now. They’ll say your account is locked, a payment failed, or you need to verify your identity. The link goes to a fake login page that looks exactly like Venmo’s. Real Venmo emails come from venmo@venmo.com only. If you’re not sure, open the Venmo app directly instead of clicking any link.
6. Never Use Venmo to Pay for Items From Strangers Online
Marketplace listings, Craigslist sellers, random Instagram shops — if someone asks you to pay through Venmo for a product they’re selling, you have almost no buyer protection if they don’t deliver. Venmo’s purchase protection only covers transactions made through their official “Pay” button in authorized merchants. Person-to-person payments? No protection at all.
Read also: More payment security tips
7. Be Suspicious of Urgency in Payment Requests
Scammers love urgency. “I need the money right now,” “my kid is in the hospital,” “I’ll lose my apartment if you don’t send it tonight.” Legitimate situations don’t usually involve a stranger on Venmo begging you for cash with a ticking clock. Any time someone pushes you to send money fast, slow down. That pressure is the scam itself.
8. Check the Username Carefully Before Sending
Some scammers create usernames almost identical to someone you know — one letter off, an extra underscore, a zero instead of an O. If you’re sending a payment, search for the person and verify their profile picture and full name before hitting pay. Sending money to the wrong person on Venmo is hard to undo.
9. Enable Two-Factor Authentication
This means anyone trying to log into your Venmo account from a new device needs a code sent to your phone, not just your password. It won’t stop every scam, but it makes it significantly harder for someone to break into your account remotely. Most people skip this step because it adds 10 seconds to a login — those 10 seconds are worth it.
10. Don’t Link Your Primary Bank Account Directly
If someone compromises your Venmo, they can drain whatever’s connected. Instead of linking your main checking account, link a secondary account you use just for Venmo with a smaller balance. That way, even if something goes wrong, the damage is limited to what’s in that secondary account, not your entire paycheck.
11. Report Suspicious Requests Immediately
When you get a scam request, don’t just decline it and move on — report it. Open the request, tap the three dots, and select “Report.” Venmo uses reports to flag and shut down fraudulent accounts. The more people report, the faster scam accounts get taken down. It takes less time than ignoring it and hoping it goes away.
12. Regularly Review Your Connected Sessions and Devices
Go to Settings → Security → Remembered Devices and check what’s logged in. If you see a device you don’t recognize, remove it immediately and change your password. Scammers who get your credentials sometimes stay logged in quietly, waiting for a balance to build up before they make a move.
Should You Still Use Venmo?
Yes — but treat it like cash. Once you hand someone cash, it’s gone unless they decide to give it back. Venmo works the same way for person-to-person payments. The app itself is secure enough when you use these protections. The scams work because people trust the app to protect them in situations it was never designed for.