This way, even if a hacker cracks your password, they’ll still be unable to get the randomized codes created from a 2FA provider. You should always set up two-factor authentication (2FA) for any accounts containing sensitive information.
| Source: BetterBuysįor a sensitive account like a Venmo profile, we recommend creating at least a 16-character password containing random numbers, letters, and symbols. A few extra characters can go a very long way. Adding extra digits to your password can make it exponentially more challenging for a thief to crack. No matter what type of account you have, hackers can always try to hack your password. You should enable this feature in ‘settings’ to mitigate in-person scams and keep your account safe if someone has stolen your phone. Venmo has a feature that requires your thumbprint before any transaction. Enable Thumbprint Option for Transactions If anyone ever asks for your password, it’s safe to assume they’re a hacker. Sometimes their email addresses may contain a word like ‘Venmo’ in them, but it won’t be an official company email address. Oftentimes, phishers will create a duplicate website that looks official but contains some irregularities.
If someone sends you a link to update your credentials, thoroughly examine the link and website. Whether through a phone call, email, or text, make sure you thoroughly investigate anyone, even hinting that you need to change your password. Heavily Scrutinize Any Venmo Communications Luckily, there are some ways you can protect yourself. Getting hacked can be a traumatic experience, especially when it involves your hard-earned money. Once they gain access, they send themselves money while you move through your day, completely unaware.
Some hackers have even been able to access Venmo accounts through Bluetooth on your phone. As soon as they receive their items, they reverse the transaction, leaving you holding an empty bag. They then buy something from that seller. This is when they find a seller online who accepts Venmo. Some cybercriminals have used the reverse transaction scam. Worse, Venmo will do little to help you because it tells you to never buy items from a stranger in the app’s terms of service. Once you send it, they cut off all communication, and you’re left with no product and no money. If you try to buy their product, they’ll give you a Venmo address to send your money to. That’s when a hacker poses as a seller of some type. People have also fallen victim to the fake sale scam. But instead of calling or texting anyone, they’re clicking into your Venmo account and sending themselves your hard-earned money.Ĭheck out this video detailing an in-person scam: It might be a stranger who asks if they can borrow your phone. While Woods fell victim to a voice phishing scam, there are other ways hackers can infiltrate your Venmo account. Woods was even issued death threats from people who looked up her home address. Then they allegedly used her account to steal over $4,500 from other Venmo users she hadn’t even met. They stole over $2,000 of her college savings money.
Once she did that, the hackers gained full access to her account. They then sent her a text with a link to update her password. The caller ironically told the 17-year-old that it looked like someone was trying to hack her account.
| Source: TwitterĪccording to news source WTKR, Virginia teen Jordan Wooley received a phone call from someone who claimed to be a Venmo representative. Awareness around the Venmo phone scam is rising. How did the hackers do it? They carried out a classic voice phishing scam. Her savings were drained, along with several of her friends who were caught in the same scheme. There’s one recently documented account of a Virginia teen whose Venmo account was hacked. And cybercriminals will try to access it in the same ways they’ve always tried to access people’s accounts. The short answer is yes your Venmo account can be hacked. As finance apps like Venmo continue to rise in popularity, it begs the question: can they be hacked, and how can you protect yourself? Venmo Hackers Do Exist Of all the types of accounts that can be hacked, few are more concerning than financial accounts.