Have you ever received a transaction screenshot of Cash App for an unknown person but never found that transaction in your activity feed? Yes, that’s a scam! And these fake Cash App sent screenshots are now massively circulating on the internet.
Newer scams are coming into the scenario each day. There are even reports that people get scammed while using their Cash Card.
So, I personally always look for red flags whenever I visit a Cash App ATM near me.
However, no scam is as notorious as the scams revolving around fake screenshots. And thousands of American people are now falling for this scam each day.
So, as a sensible financial guy, I decided to bust that scam and let our users know how to remain safe from it.
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What Is The Fake Cash App Screenshot Scam?
Source: Twitter
Due to the rise of tools that can generate fake payment screenshots and receipts, many of the payment systems got hit by it, including PayPal, Payoneer, Zelle, and Skrill. And Cash App is no different, as many Cash App users lost their money to scammers.
A 2023 report by CNBC suggests that American consumers lost nearly $8.8 billion to fraudsters. And according to a recent report by Investopedia, Block, the parent company of Cash App, incurred $111.8 million in losses last year, with a $0.18 dip in their share price.
So, the problem is serious! Anyone can now generate fake Cash App screenshots by using some petty tools if they don’t have any moral or ethical dilemmas.
In this one-of-a-kind scam, fraudsters send fake screenshots of transactions to extort money from the Cash App user.
It is not like the free Cash App money code that can actually bring your money. Instead, you’ll lose it all!
Why Scammers Use Fake Cash App Screenshots?
Get this fact first; it is easier to send money on Cash App than ask for a reversal. Once you send money to someone through this payment system, it becomes almost impossible to get it back.
If you send someone money using their Cash App name or $Cashtag, you can’t cancel it once it is processed. And scammers take advantage of this scenario by using fake Cash App screenshot generators.
Scammers usually target vulnerable users and send them fake screenshots to tell a (fake) story. They will then ask for a refund or a simple money transfer. And on the other hand, those users lose out a lot of money.
This scam is so prevailing that there are entire forums and YouTube channels dedicated to it.
How Scammers Use Fake Cash App Screenshots? (Must Know!)
Source: Twitter
Scammers regularly extort money from people using fake Cash App to send reports. Even the Cash App card is not safe from this scam, as many people also lost their money from the card this way.
Although scammers come up with many variants of this story, the basics of these scams remain almost the same.
Here is how it works!
- Imposters send a fake screenshot to a vulnerable Cash App user or Cash App merchant.
- In the case of users, scammers contact them and ask for payback. Sometimes, they also ask for a clearance amount for bigger sweepstakes.
- In the case of merchants, fraudsters force them to complete the transaction from their side and dispatch the product while saying that it can be a technical glitch that the money is not reflecting.
- Vulnerable users and merchants fall for their stories and do what scammers want them to do.
- Finally, the user loses money, and the merchant loses the item without actually receiving the money ever.
Note: You’ll only receive official emails from Cash App from @cash.app, @square.com, @squareup.com, or @drivewealth.com. So, check the spelling of the domains carefully to identify any fake emails from scammers pretending to be from the Cash App.
Read: Cash App Referral Code [BR8RDQX] – Get a MAXIMUM Bonus
Which Is The Most Common Fake Cash App Sent Screenshot Scam?
Source: Twitter
There are many scams going around in the USA where scammers use a fake Cash App sent screenshots to extort money from users.
But there is a payment refund scam that is most used by scammers.
Here is how it works:
- You’ll receive a (fake) screenshot of someone sending you money on your Cash App account.
- The scammer then contacts you and tells you that they have mistakenly sent that.
- You check your account and find no such payment.
- The scammer then tells you that it may be a glitch or maybe it is taking time to reflect on your account. But the scammer will insist that you can see the transaction completed status on the (fake) screenshot.
- You believe in that glitch or a delay and do your moral duty to refund the payment.
- You wait for the money (which was reflected in the fake screenshot) to be reflected on your Cash App, and it never appears.
- Finally, scammers block your account so that you cannot contact them. And yes, you lose that money which you have already sent.
As I’ve said earlier, scammers also regularly target vulnerable merchants. They send a fake screenshot as payment proof for any item. The merchant then sends the item believing the screenshot, and the money never appears.
Bonus: There are many ways to make money using your Cash App account. There are even exciting games that pay through Cash App in 2024. You must try those!
What Is The Cash App Clearance Fee Scam?
The clearance fee scam is also a popular (read notorious) scam going around in the USA market. Scammers use fake Cash App send-money receipts to get money from people.
And this is how it works.
- You have participated in a sweepstakes on any social media platform, such as Facebook.
- Scammers track you from there and detect you as a vulnerable user.
- They will then contact you through messenger or other means and tell you that you hit the jackpot; the entire sweepstake is yours.
- Scammers will then send you a fake transaction screenshot that displays the entire amount is already transferred to your Cash App account.
- They will then tell you that you need to pay a clearance fee to get that money reflected in your Cash App account.
- Fraudsters will also convince you that the money is already dispatched but not cleared from the gateway due to the non-payment of the clearance fee.
- You believe them and the screenshot and send them the so-called clearance fee.
- Scammers take no time to ghost you, and you lose all the money that you have paid as a clearance fee.
Note: Not every claim regarding Cash App is false! You can now really get $750 Cash App rewards from trusted partners. But do investigate from your side if anyone asks you for money rather than giving it to you.
Which Fake Cash App Screenshot Generators Scammers Use The Most? (5 Most Used Tools In 2024)
Source: Twitter
There are hundreds of fake Cash App sent generators available in the open market (and a lot more in the dark net). But there are certain tools that scammers like the most.
If you know about these tools, you can safeguard yourself from these scams. So, we have filtered five such tools that you must be aware of!
1. SwiftMoney Business
Anyone can design and print a professional-looking receipt while using SwiftMoney.
It is a legit tool that merchants use to generate real receipts. But scammers also use this tool a big time to generate a fake one.
Although there is no fake Cash App sent template available on this tool, anyone can edit any existing template to look like a Cash App receipt.
With SwiftMoney, scammers can manipulate almost anything on a receipt, such as a background, logo, name of the receiver, color scheme, and a lot more.
Anyone can also add complete transaction details to these receipts to make them look genuine.
2. Cash Prank Maker
Cash Prank Maker is another popular app in the Google Play Store that has more than 100K downloads.
It was initially developed to play pranks with friends, as there are hundreds of pre-made templates available.
But scammers see an opportunity here and started using this tool to generate fake (real-looking) receipts. There are even dedicated money transfer templates available on this tool.
Anyone can manipulate $Cashtag, amount sent, transaction details, time of the transaction, type of currency used, and even the phone status bar.
3. Cash Receipt
You can also find the Cash Receipt app on Google Play Store. And it has more than 500K active downloads with close to 4K reviews.
Actually, this is also a tool that is developed for generating real receipts. But scammers being scammers, started using this tool to generate fake Cash App send-money screenshots.
It is also a scammer’s favorite as it allows receipt editing on bigger screens, such as a tablet.
Scammers can manipulate logos, the recipient’s name, phone number, company details, time of the transaction, and many other things. It also allows the creation of an SMS field in the receipt that makes it even more realistic.
4. Invoice Maker & Estimate App
Available exclusively on Apple App Store, Invoice Maker & Estimate App is a popular tool that is now being used by more than 800,000 small-to-medium business enterprises from 150 different countries.
Yes, that’s how popular this app is. But scammers also use this app to generate fake receipts that look identical to a real ones.
This one also offers a cloud backup to store already generated receipts.
There are several such pre-made templates available on this app that a scammer can easily manipulate to generate a fake receipt.
5. Smart Invoice Maker By Billdu
Developed by London-based Billdu, Smart Invoice Maker is a legit app available in Google Play Store.
You can also find it on the Apple App Store as Simple Invoice Maker. These two are the same app with different names on different platforms.
It is intended for real businesses, as it is now serving more than 100K enterprises around the globe. But scammers now also use this tool to generate fake Cash App sent reports.
This app offers different customizations, such as manipulation of the logo, amount, date, name, company name, and a lot more.
How To Take A “Real” Screenshot On Cash App?
Source: Twitter
It is possible that you really need to take screenshots from Cash App for some reason. And if you are a real user, you will go for a real screenshot rather than using some tools to generate a fake one. Won’t you?
It is now possible to take screenshots of your Cash App without any manipulation of any kind. And here are the steps to do it.
- For iOS: Launch Cash App on your iPhone and go to the screen that you need to take a screenshot of. Now press the “Power” and the “Volume Up” buttons together until you hear a shutter noise with a captured screen. You can then “Save to files” or send it directly to the recipient.
- For Android: Launch the app on your Android phone and navigate to the screen. Press the “Power” and the “Volume Down” buttons together. It will automatically save the screenshot on your phone’s gallery.
Alternatively, you can also assign a double-tap or triple-tap on the back of your iPhone to take a screenshot. To do this, go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch and assign “Screenshot.”
How To Spot A Fake Cash App Screenshot?
It is necessary to spot a fake Cash App send-money screenshot if you want to remain safe from these kinds of scams. Many Cash App flips also use these screenshots to fool people and take money from them.
You need to remember that you’ll get an instant notification (without any delay) whenever there is a monetary activity on your Cash App account.
So, it is impossible that you won’t receive a notification if someone has really sent you money.
And even if you get a fake one, there are many ways to spot a fake screenshot of the Cash App.
1. Check The Notification
Scammers are now even implementing smarter techniques, and you need to stay ahead of them to safeguard your money.
First, check if Cash App declined your payment or not. And then check the notification even if you receive one.
Scammers also use similar kinds of notification systems (with a little bit of alteration), and people often misjudge them as authentic notifications. But there are ways to identify it.
- Check which number you got the notification from. If it is not from the official or promotional Cash App number, it is definitely a fake one.
- Check for grammatical and spelling errors in the notification.
- Tally the amount in that notification to your actual available Cash App balance. If it mismatches, it is surely a fake one.
2. Verify Through Your Cash App Activity Feed
Every transaction that happens on your Cash App can be found in a historical manner in your activity feed. You’ll get a concise report of all your sent and received money.
So, you need to check your activity feed first to identify if you have actually received it or not. And you can do it quite easily.
- Launch the Cash App on your smartphone.
- Tap on the “Clock” icon (activity feed).
- Once you get the complete report, find the transaction details.
- If you can’t find any transaction that matches the screenshot, it is a fake one.
Note: It is also possible to delete the transaction history on Cash App. So, if you have already deleted the transaction history, it will not be possible for you to track the transaction.
3. Verify The Sender’s Profile
If someone claims to send you money while giving you a (fake) screenshot, you need to first note down the name of the sender and the $Cashtag associated with it.
Now, go to your Cash App account and search for the username or the $Cashtag. If you can’t find any associated account, it is definitely a fake one.
Even if you find a profile that matches the screenshot, look for the profile image and the profile creation date. If it is a newly created profile with a generic image, it is possibly a fake one.
4. Thoroughly Inspect The Screenshot
The best way to track any fake screenshot is to detect it through its visual parameters. First, if the screenshot shows an unrealistic amount, it is a fake one (until you have an Elon Musk kind of friend).
Secondly, look at the design and quality of the screenshot. If it starts pixelating once you zoom in, the screenshot is a fake one.
How To Identify The Difference Between Real and Fake Cash App Sent Screenshot?
It is easy to generate fake Cash App sent screen images. But it is easier to detect them if you look closely. And there are some tested ways to differentiate between a legit and a fake screenshot.
- Look for imperfections in design and mismatched color schemes or contrast.
- Search for any blurred watermark (most free tools generate a watermark).
- Check for the date and time mentioned in the screenshot.
- Verify the font of the texts and numbers with your original Cash App account.
- Search for any grammatical or spelling errors in the screenshot.
- Tally the amount mentioned in the screenshot with your available balance on Cash App.
Bonus: Do you know that you can now take part in legit surveys and get your payment right onto your Cash App account? Check out our recommended list of high-paying surveys that pay through Cash App.
What Should You Do If You Encounter A Cash App Scam?
Whenever you get any suspicious or fake cash app sent report or screenshot, you need to contact the Cash App team to let them know about this fraudulent activity.
You also need to report it even if you are using Cash App for kids.
Reporting a suspicious payment or an even more suspicious profile takes just a minute in Cash App.
- Step 1: Launch the Cash App and log in to your account.
- Step 2: Tap on your profile image.
- Step 3: Once you get the menu, tap on “Support.”
- Step 4: Tap on the “Report A Payment Issue” option.
- Step 5: Navigate to the suspicious transaction on the list and tap to select it.
- Step 6: Follow the on-screen prompt to report the transaction.
- Step 7: Now, go back to your profile and tap on the search button.
- Step 8: Enter the name, phone number, email id, or $Cashtag of the suspicious account.
- Step 9: Once you find the profile, tap on “Report” (You can also “Block” it).
- Step 10: Follow the on-screen prompt again to report the profile.
You can also reach out to Cash App through the contact page. Besides you can call them at 1 (800) 969-1940 from Monday to Friday.
What Are The Risks Involved In Generating A Fake Cash App Sent Screenshot?
First of all, it is an illegal hustle if someone uses a fake Cash App sent report to extort money. However, there are many other risks involved as well.
Some of them are as follows.
- Legal Obligations: It is absolutely illegal to generate or manipulate any fake screenshot of any transaction on the Cash App. It will result in fraudulent and criminal charges. And if a scammer goes through legal action, hefty fines and jail terms are waiting right at the door.
- Moral Obligations: It is morally wrong to give hope to anyone by using a fake screenshot. Good people expect good things. And they also trust people very fast. So, extorting money from them in this way will surely create a moral dilemma.
- Ethical Obligations: If a scammer gets caught while using a screenshot, they will not just lose their reputation but also lose the trust factor permanently. Besides, Cash App will also not allow the scammer to create a profile again.
Final Note
It is easy to identify a fake Cash App sent report or screenshot. All you need is the presence of mind and an eye to spot fake things.
Do remember that scammers use fear and greed as their primary tools to lure vulnerable people.
So, don’t fall for it if anyone promises you free money. You also need to stay cautious if someone promises an unprecedented amount of money; stay away from it. And if you are already a victim of this scam, don’t waste time reporting it on Cash App.
You can surely make money without any investment, as there are many ways available. But you need to check the sources and legitimacy of the claims before trying one.
FAQs
Do Cash App scams exist?
Yes, there are several types of Cash App scams that exist even in 2023. And newer scams are emerging every day with newer techniques to extort money from Cash App users.
Some of the most popular scams are the fake transaction screenshot scam, fake security alert scam, phishing attempt, and Cash App flip.
Can you fake Cash app transactions?
Yes, anyone can generate a fake screenshot or report of a Cash App transaction, although it is absolutely illegal to do so. Scammers who fake these stuff can face lumpsum fines and imprisonment.
Many apps like Cash Prank Maker are now legally available for smartphones that scammers use to generate fake screenshots.
Why would someone create a fake Cash App money-sent screenshot?
The main motif of generating a fake Cash App sent screenshot is definitely scamming people. Fraudsters use these screenshots to extort money from Cash App users through different means.
However, people sometimes also fake these screenshots just to prank their friends. But there, no monetary transaction is involved.
Will Cash App refund money if I’m scammed?
It depends according to the policy of Cash App. If you report any suspicious transaction with legit proof, Cash App may block that transaction and revert your money to your account.
But yes, this process is lengthy, and you need to be in touch with the customer support team.
If you want even more ideas for making money, consider checking our posts on:
- 43 Cash App Games That Pay Real Money
- How To Get Cash App Free Money Code? [Get a $1000 Free Bonus]
- 25 High Paying Cash App Surveys To Make Money
Hello there, I’m Siva Mahesh, an MBA Finance post-graduate and a Remote Career & Personal Finance blogger for 5+ years. Over the years, my work has been featured on US News, Entrepreneur, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GoBankingRates, EverQuote, Legal Zoom, The Simple Dollar, Databox, Business.com, Business News Daily, Venngage, Score.org, and more. My primary mission is to help our readers maximize their earning potential with legitimate online business ideas, side hustles, and passive income ideas we publish on Dreamshala. Currently, more than 100,000 readers from all around the world visit this blog every month and learn new ways to improve their finances.
