Is "someone sent money by mistake on cash app and asking for it back" a scam?

Question

Is "someone sent money by mistake on cash app and asking for it back" a scam? How do I know, and what should I do?

Accepted Answer

Yes — this is a known, dangerous scam. A stranger sends you money on Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal — then messages you saying it was a mistake and asking you to send it back. The original transfer was funded by a stolen card or hacked account; sending it back from your own funds means you lose the money once the original is reversed. Red flags: An unsolicited payment from a name you don't recognize • A frantic message ('please my husband is sick, I sent that money for surgery') asking you to send it back to a different account or phone number • Pressure to act fast before they 'lose access' or 'get in trouble' • The amount is round and just under a typical fraud threshold ($500-$1,500). What to do: Do not send the money back. Do not touch it • Contact the payment app's support directly through the official app — not by clicking links in any message you received • Let the payment platform handle the reversal of the original mistaken transfer. They have processes for this • If they pressure you with threats or sob stories, block them and screenshot the conversation • Report to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov.

Is “someone sent money by mistake on cash app and asking for it back” a scam?

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