Fake Venmo accounts steal donations from real charities

Apps like Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, and PayPal have changed the way money moves. They are fast and convenient, but the simplest thing causes exposure. If you send funds to the wrong person, they will probably disappear forever. There is often no real path to recovery, especially if the recipient disappears behind a support system that does not respond to fake usernames.

This vulnerability becomes even more dangerous at the moment of crisis. During natural disasters, famous social movements, or health emergencies, people are moved to give. The con artist knows this and exploits impulses. One such scam included a fake Venmo account, which pretended to collect donations from a Minnesota nonprofit organization after George Floyd’s death. The account looked legal, but the funds didn’t reach the organization.

Similar scams target Miles Pellet Cancer Services, a Louisiana-based nonprofit organization. The scammers have created fraudulent Venmo accounts that closely mimic the legitimate Venmo handle of a cancer nonprofit. They use this fake account to trick well-intentioned donors into sending money.

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Fake venmo accounts mimic real charity: 1 way characters fool you

Miles Perret Cancer Services (MPCS) provides support to families facing cancer diagnosis. They recently discovered that an unauthorized Venmo account is spoofing an official account. Their real handle is @milesperretcs. I use the scammer’s account @milesperretcs_a copy that is almost indistinguishable.

For the average person, it doesn’t look like a difference. That’s exactly what makes it dangerous.

“I reported this account through the app over 24 hours ago,” MPCS executive director Timothy Rinaldi told Cyberguy. “There was no follow-up from Venmo. I tried the live chat option, but it suddenly closed without a solution.”

Instead of helping, Benmo routed Rinaldi through general FAQs and legal disclaimers. Even after he connected with a live support agent, the response was standard script. He was told that this issue had escalated, but he was unable to provide a timeline beyond the ambiguous window of 3-5 business days.

The FBI warns about fraud targeting victims in fake hospitals and police

Venmo Charity Fraud: How Scarers Deceive Donors Using Fake Accounts

Fake Venmo accounts have been used in recent years to promote donations for hurricane relief, animal shelters, medical funds and other causes. The formula is simple. Take a known nonprofit organization, tweak your username slightly and get on the momentum of goodwill. By the time everyone catches up, the money will be gone and the losses will be incurred.

Incidents involving MPCS are not isolated cases. In December 2024, the Final Winning Animal Rescue Team, a South Carolina-based nonprofit organization; I discovered it A Venmo account that impersonates an organization and collects donations for actual charity. Michael Sniezek, the group’s general manager, confirmed that the account had received funds from unsuspecting donors before the issue was flagged.

In another case, there is no more dog rescue, a Phoenix-based nonprofit. Post to Facebook That fraudulent Venmo account targeted past donors, sent payment requests and asked for additional funds to be falsely sought.

MPCS has submitted a report to the Federal Trade Commission, but there is no guarantee that it will be resolved quickly. The fraudulent account remains active as of press time. It is unclear how much has already been lost or whether Venmo will recover and return it.

This is what you’re wrong when a scammer calls

How to Avoid Venmo Scams: 11 Expert Tips to Protect Your Money

Scammers don’t just target charity. They are chasing anyone and anyone. Here are some ways to protect yourself and keep your hard-earned money safe.

1) Always access the payment app from the official app or website; Not from third-party platforms or services.

2) Look at the security settings The payments app offers and make sure they are all set to the best and most protective settings.

3) Consider using personal data removal services to protect your privacy and reduce the risk of fraud. Scammers targeting payment apps such as Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, and PayPal often rely on information found on data brokers and talent search sites to create compelling spoofing and phishing attempts. These sites can list your name, address, phone number, and even connections to organizations you support, making it easier for scammers to trick you and others into sending money to fake accounts.

Personal Data Deletion Services work by automatically deleting information from hundreds of data broker sites, making it more difficult for scammers to find and misuse details. Scrubing data from these sources reduces the risk of being targeted by payment app scams and reduces the likelihood that someone will impersonate you or the nonprofit you care about. Check out our top picks for data deletion services.

Get it Free scan To find out if your personal information is already on the web

4) Create powerful, unique and complex passwords Changes frequently for each mobile payment app. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords. Get my details Find the best expert reviewed password managers of 2025 here.

5) Enable Two-factor authenticationwhich means you need to enter a code or unlock your account using a fingerprint or face to prevent unauthorized access. In this way, even if someone knows your password, they cannot log in without your device or confirmation.

6) Lock the device and log out of the app. You should always lock the phone with a password, pin, pattern, fingerprint, or face. Do not share your password, PIN, or security code with anyone. You will also need to log out of the mobile payment app and turn off the autorosin feature every time you use it. In this way, even if someone acquires or borrows your device, they will not be able to access your mobile payment app without your approval.

7) Check the identity and legitimacy of the sender or recipient. You should always check the name, photo, username and contact information of the person or organization that has submitted or received your money before accepting or submitting your payment request. You also need to check the reason and amount of the transaction before agreeing to it. If you are unsure about your questions, you should contact the person or organization directly by another way, such as by phone, text message or email. You should never send money, provide account details to people you don’t know or trust, or to anyone who asks you to do so from Blue.

8) Link Venmo to your credit card In contrast to debit cards, it’s easier to challenge fees from scammers. However, linking your credit card to the payment app may provide additional protection in the event of a scam, which can cost you additional fees in terms of transaction fees.

9) Don’t balance your apps that move your money. When it comes to fraud, it is likely that you will be supported by a bank or credit card company.

10) Do not use powerful antivirus software to click on links from unknown sources. Especially if the email or text appears to come from the payment app. Run antivirus software on your device to protect yourself from accidentally clicking malicious links.

The best way to protect yourself from malicious links to install malware is to install antivirus software on all devices, as it may access your personal information. This protection can also warn you that it will phish email and ransomware fraud and keep your personal information and digital assets safe. Get the best 2025 Antivirus Protection Winners picks for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

11) Monitor your account activity and report suspicious or incorrect transactions. You should set up notifications from the payment app and bank via text or email and check your account activity regularly. Look for signs of fraud. For example, customers may not create or receive it, or change account settings or information.

Important points of cart

Unlike traditional banks bound by federal consumer protection laws and fraud resolution timelines, peer-to-peer payment apps operate in a much more lax regulatory environment. Services like Venmo often state that user agreements are not liable for false or fraudulent payments unless there is clear evidence of account compromise or technical malfunction. Benmo’s only suggestion here was to wait in response to a support ticket. There was no emergency fraud hotline, no dedicated contact information for nonprofits, and there was no indication that emergency action would be taken. Payment apps that allow donations as quickly as texting should also bear the responsibility to keep those transactions safe. Something is broken when nonprofits have to ask for help just to protect their identity.

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