Venmo has become a popular and relatively safe way to quickly send money to friends and family members. Even the safest websites, though, can struggle with scam artists. When most people receive a request for money from a friend or family member, especially if it’s somebody very familiar, they’re usually inclined to help — but with Venmo scams on the rise, it would be wise to think twice before pressing the “send” button.
The scam can happen when someone receives a money request from a loved one via Venmo. There is usually a reason attached to the request as well – lost wallet, groceries, gas or another common or familiar reason. The account looks legitimate because it’s using the name and perhaps even a profile picture of the friend. But if you take a closer look, the account name will usually be a character or two off from the real account name.