Protect Your Money From Fake Cash App Giveaway Scams

1. How the Cash App Giveaway Scam Works
2. Red Flags of the Cash App Giveaway Scams
3. How to Beat Cash App Giveaway Scams
4. Have You Fallen For This Cash App Giveaway Scam?
5. Frequently Asked Questions

Cash App giveaways are common, but so are scams posing as the popular app. Scammers target anyone who enters an official Cash App giveaway. Since these types of scams involve publicly sharing or engaging with something on social media, it's easy for scammers to see who has entered.

Scammers also target those who join other giveaways that don't come from Cash App directly but use Cash App to send the reward. In either case, the scammers are trying to find people who need quick money and who may overlook red flags.

Before entering any kind of giveaway on the app, be sure to look for red flags of a scam and only trust messages coming from genuine Cash App accounts. The best way to protect yourself is to understand how the scam works and how scammers try to trick you.

How the Cash App Giveaway Scam Works

In this Cash App giveaway scam, you enter to win a legitimate Cash App giveaway on Twitter or Instagram. You then receive a direct message from a different Cash App account saying you won a separate giveaway.

The catch is, you need to send a small amount to verify your identity before receiving your prize money—this is the root of the scam. Once you send the money, as requested, the fake Cash App account blocks you, and your cash is gone.

Here's how it works:

You Enter To Win A Cash App Giveaway 

Cash App hosts giveaways on their official Twitter and Instagram accounts. The official Cash App account will ask you to follow, like, or share a post to enter the giveaway and may also ask you to share your $cashtag or account username.

When coming from an official Cash App account, these giveaways are legitimate. However, entering a giveaway on a public platform and sharing your username puts you at risk of being scammed.

You Receive A Message From A Different Cash App Account Saying You Won A Different Giveaway

Once you've entered the giveaway, you receive a message from a fake Cash App account saying you won a separate giveaway. At this point, you’re unaware this Cash App account is fake. They ask you to verify your identity by sending them a small amount of money from your Cash App account.

If the contest you entered asked you to share your $cashtag, you may even receive a Cash App request for the money. The fake account may also give you a phony Cash App link and ask you to sign in to the app in an attempt to steal your credentials.

Example Scam Message

You are a winner of the cash app giveaway on now. Just send $10 to verify your account and you will see your winning money in your cash app account. It's safe and secure. No need for worries.

You Send Money And The Fake Account Blocks You

You send money to the fake account, and they block you. Once the scammer does this, you'll have no way of contacting them or retrieving your money back. They've stolen your money and don't intend on sending you a prize.

If you’ve fallen for this scam, it’s almost impossible to get your money back. Remember, if a giveaway requires that you send money to receive money, it’s a scam!

Red Flags of the Cash App Giveaway Scams

The Cash App giveaway scam works because they closely resemble legitimate giveaways, and they take place on social media where all entries for real giveaways are public. 

However, there are a few ways to tell if someone is trying to scam you by using a Cash App giveaway:

• You get contacted by an account other than the official Cash App account or the account hosting the giveaway.
• You get a message on social media asking to send money or receive a payment request on Cash App from someone you don't know.
• The account that messages you has limited followers and posts or has only been live on Twitter for a short time.
• Someone asks for your Cash App credentials, gives you a link to follow, or something to download.
• Bad spelling or grammar in the message.

How to Beat Cash App Giveaway Scams

Anyone who enters to win an official Cash App giveaway on social media is at risk of getting scammed, but you can protect yourself from this scam by knowing what to look for and staying aware. 

The two main ways to beat this scam are to ignore direct messages from people you don't know and only send money to people you know. Additionally, since Cash App scammers are able to mimic the Cash App brand and easily trick you into thinking they are legitimate, it’s important to keep yourself safe when entering giveaways.

Be sure you:

• Understand the rules of the giveaway (and the process if/when you win)
• Only enter legit Cash App giveaways
• Secure your Cash App account

Don't Respond To Direct Messages From Accounts You Don't Know

If you receive a message on social media from someone you don't know, don't respond. Cash App has two official Twitter accounts and one official Instagram account, all of which have a blue verification check next to their name:

• Twitter: @CashApp
• Twitter: @CashSupport
• Instagram: @cashapp

On Twitter, you can also tell if an account is a spam account by the join date. If the account's date is from the last few months, chances are the account is fake. 

Don't Send Money To Anyone You Don't Know

In general, you should never send money to someone you don't know. If you win an official Cash App giveaway, Cash App will never request money from you first to claim your winnings. They will also never require you to make a purchase or download anything.

If someone contacts you claiming to be with Cash App and makes such a request, they're likely a scammer.

Understand the Rules of the Official Giveaway

When you enter a giveaway, make sure you understand the rules and how they'll notify you if you win. If someone contacts you in any way besides how they specify in the giveaway rules, it is most likely a scam.

Only Enter Giveaways From Official Accounts

Make sure the giveaway you're entering is legitimate before sharing your $cashtag. Legitimate giveaways will come from official accounts marked by a blue checkmark.

It is possible celebrities, or other organizations are hosting giveaways and using Cash App as a payment method. If you find someone hosting a giveaway on social media, don't enter unless the account has the official blue checkmark or it's someone you know personally.

Ultimately, if you're questioning the legitimacy of a giveaway, chances are it's not real, and you shouldn't take the risk.

Set Up Security Features On Cash App

Make sure to protect your information with security features on Cash App. You can set all transactions to require a PIN or fingerprint to send. You can also set up two-factor authentication (2FA), making it harder for someone to log in even if they have your password.

Finally, set up text and email notifications for suspicious account behavior.

Have You Fallen For This Cash App Giveaway Scam?

If you believe you've fallen victim to a Cash App giveaway scam, contact the Cash App support directly through the app or website. Explain your situation and provide details like the name of the account that contacted you and where you sent the money.

You can also dispute the payment, although because payments happen immediately, it's unlikely you'll get your money back.

Also, be sure to report the fake account to  Twitter or Instagram. You can also report the scam to the Internet Crime Complaint Center and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Reporting these scams won't necessarily get you your money back, but reporting scam accounts helps other people not fall victim to their scams.