In short
Most common fake: Fake prize or cash reward with a link to claim it.
Safest check: Never share the verification code Venmo texts you with anyone.
Where to report it: Forward fake Venmo emails as an attachment, or send a screenshot of the text showing the full phone number, to phishing@venmo.com.
What Venmo says
Venmo says nobody at Venmo will contact you to ask for your password or verification code, and it will never ask for remote access to your device, ask you to install another app, or ask you to send money to verify your account. Real Venmo emails greet you by your name rather than a generic greeting, and anything urgent can be found by signing in to the app. Source: Venmo
Common fake Venmo messages
These are the 5 shapes a fake Venmo message usually takes. They are listed in the order we see them most often, and none of them is something Venmo itself does.
- Fake prize or cash reward with a link to claim it
- Caller posing as Venmo support who asks for your verification code
- Payment from a stranger followed by a request to refund it
- Buyer who sends a fake payment screenshot
- Friend's account asking for money after the profile was changed
Venmo's real web addresses
Genuine Venmo links and emails use these domains. Look at the part just before the first single slash: venmo.com is real, but venmo-support-center.com or venmo.com.account-check.top are not.
- venmo.com
Scammers can also hide a fake link behind real-looking text. Learn how to read a web address.
How to check a Venmo message safely
- Never share the verification code Venmo texts you with anyone
- Open the Venmo app yourself to check for any real account notices
- Check whether the message greets you by your full name, not 'Dear user'
- Use the Help Center on venmo.com instead of phone numbers found in search results or messages
How to report a fake Venmo message
- Forward fake Venmo emails as an attachment, or send a screenshot of the text showing the full phone number, to phishing@venmo.com. Official details on help.venmo.com
- Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Official details on reportfraud.ftc.gov
Also report it to the official fraud service in your country. See the worldwide list.
If you clicked, paid or shared details
Act quickly. It makes a difference.
- If you entered card or bank details, call your bank now using the number on your card, and ask them to block the card.
- If you entered a password, change it at venmo.com, typed into your browser yourself, and turn on two-step verification. Do not use any link from the message.
- Expect follow-up calls or messages pretending to help, sometimes claiming to be from Venmo security. Never share one-time codes and never move money to a "safe account".
- Forward fake Venmo emails as an attachment, or send a screenshot of the text showing the full phone number, to phishing@venmo.com, then delete the message.
More help: Marketplace buyer and seller scams and what to do after a scam.
How to protect yourself next time
Watch for anyone using your identity
If you shared ID documents, card details or a Social Security number, monitoring can alert you when someone opens credit or accounts in your name.
Free: In the US, a credit freeze at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion is free and blocks most new-credit fraud. Elsewhere, ask your bank and your credit reference agency about fraud alerts.
- Aura Partner link US identity theft protection with credit monitoring and fraud insurance.
Keep security software with web protection on your devices
It blocks many known scam and malware websites and warns about dangerous apps. That matters most if you installed an app or "support" tool someone asked you to.
Free: Keep your phone and browser updated, and leave Google Play Protect or Microsoft Defender switched on. Both are free.
- Bitdefender Partner link Security suite for phone and computer with web and scam protection.
Compare the tools that help, and what each costs
Links marked Partner link may earn us a commission, at no cost to you. It never changes our advice, and the free option always comes first. Affiliate disclosure.
Questions people ask
Does Venmo send messages asking for payment or personal details?
Venmo says nobody at Venmo will contact you to ask for your password or verification code, and it will never ask for remote access to your device, ask you to install another app, or ask you to send money to verify your account. Real Venmo emails greet you by your name rather than a generic greeting, and anything urgent can be found by signing in to the app.
How can I check if a Venmo message is real?
Never share the verification code Venmo texts you with anyone. Open the Venmo app yourself to check for any real account notices. Check whether the message greets you by your full name, not 'Dear user'. Use the Help Center on venmo.com instead of phone numbers found in search results or messages.
How do I report a fake Venmo message?
Forward fake Venmo emails as an attachment, or send a screenshot of the text showing the full phone number, to phishing@venmo.com. Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
I clicked a link in a fake Venmo message but did not enter anything. Am I at risk?
Opening a link is far less serious than filling one in. Close it, and if you need your account, reach it by typing venmo.com yourself. Clicking does tell the sender your number is live, so expect more messages for a while: forward fake venmo emails as an attachment, or send a screenshot of the text showing the full phone number, to phishing@venmo.com.
Have you had this one?
Tell other people what the message said and how it reached you. It helps someone recognise it before they tap.
No stories yet. Yours could be the one that warns someone.
Official sources and further reading
We check our pages against official advice from the organisations themselves and from government agencies.
- Reporting Fake or Suspicious Messages or Emails (Venmo)
- Common Scams on Venmo (Venmo)
- Venmo Security (Venmo)
- Do you use payment apps like Venmo, CashApp, or Zelle? Read this (Federal Trade Commission)