Should you use person-to-person to send money to someone you don?t know?
08/15/2023
Person-to-person payments are a great way to send money to friends, family or others you trust, such as your personal trainer, babysitter, or a neighbor. But remember, caution is key! If you don’t know the person or aren’t sure you will get what you are buying, we recommend you do not use person-to-person transfers for these types of transactions, which are potentially high risk.
Using person-to-person payment methods (such as Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App) or wire transfers to send money is a lot like sending cash in the mail. Once it’s gone, you probably won’t get it back — which explains why scammers tell you to pay that way. You’d think twice before mailing your hard-earned cash — do the same thing before you use person-to-person payment methods to send money to a person you don’t know.
Here’s what to know:
Scammers want your attention (and your trust) so they can ask you to send money through person-to-person payment methods or a company like Western Union or MoneyGram. Some scammers weave a complex web of lies to get you to send them money. They might find you on a dating app, earn your trust, and then say they have an emergency. That’s when they ask you to send them money right away. And that’s always a scam.
A scammer might be lurking on Craigslist, eBay, or another resale website where you posted an item for sale. They’ll overpay you and suggest that you send back the extra money – maybe even keeping some of the overpayment for yourself. But that’s always a scam.
No matter what reason they give, never send money to someone you haven’t met in person, who pressures you to pay immediately, or who says that person-to-person or a wire transfer is the only way to pay. Only scammers ask you to do those things.
Already sent money to a scammer? You might feel embarrassed for losing money and for trusting them, but you can report the scammer to federal law enforcement by visiting www.ic3.gov.