Person-to-person payment apps are fast because they are designed to move money with very little friction. That same speed makes scam payments difficult to reverse. If you realize you sent money to a scammer, act quickly and contact both the payment service and your financial institution.
Stop communicating with the scammer
Do not send an additional “verification,” “release,” “refund” or “recovery” payment. Scammers often ask for more money after the first transfer. Save the conversation instead of deleting it.
Report the transaction inside the payment service
Use the app’s official fraud or support process and ask whether the transfer can be stopped or reversed. The CFPB advises contacting the bank or payment company right away if you believe you made a mobile payment to a scammer.
Contact the bank or card issuer linked to the app
Explain what happened and ask what protections or dispute procedures apply to your specific transaction. Do not rely on a phone number supplied by the scammer or in an unexpected text; use the number on your card, statement or official app.
Secure the payment account
Change the password if there is any chance the scammer obtained it, enable multi-factor authentication, review linked bank accounts and cards, and check recent activity. Never share a one-time verification code with someone who contacts you.
Preserve useful evidence
Save screenshots of the recipient name, username, phone number, transaction ID, amount, date, messages and any advertisement or listing connected to the scam. This information can help the payment company, bank or law-enforcement agency understand what occurred.
Report the fraud
The CFPB directs consumers to report scams through resources including the FTC and, for online scams, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. Reporting may not guarantee recovery, but it creates a record and can help investigators identify patterns.
For future payments, confirm the person through another channel
If a friend, relative or business unexpectedly asks for money, verify the request using a phone number or contact method you already know. Payment apps are safest when used with people you know and trust and when recipient details are checked before sending.
Primary sources and further help
We reviewed this guide against the following public consumer resources. Rules and procedures can change, so use the linked agency guidance for the latest details.