If you're seeing Venmo on your bank or card statement and don't have an account with us, someone else might have added it to Venmo. Read on for the next steps.
Usually, this indicates your financial information was added to our service by an authorized friend or family member, or by someone else without your authorization.
Before taking the steps below, it may be useful to check in with any family or household members who might have had permission to use your funding sources to send payments within Venmo (i.e., children, spouse, etc.). Venmo is popular with college students to split bills, rent, and other things easily with friends. For more information about what Venmo is, check out this article!
I’ve confirmed these payments were unauthorized - help!
If you confirm the payments were not authorized by you or someone with permission to use your card, it's likely someone has gained unauthorized access to your personal and/or financial information. Unfortunately, there is no way for Venmo to determine how your account information was breached, but here are some steps we recommend taking as soon as you can:
- Update your online banking and financial services passwords
- Contact your bank/card company
- File a dispute
- Request a new bank account number or card number
Once you let your bank or card company know the charges were unauthorized, they should be able to walk you through the dispute process. They are your best contact for this situation. They will reimburse you for your loss and will file a claim with Venmo separately for that amount.
Working with your bank or card company is the only way to ensure that your information is secure. Fraudsters often buy and sell personal information, so it's likely your personal account numbers are still available for others to use outside of Venmo.
Can Venmo refund me if I don’t want to contact my bank or card issuer?
In these cases, we ask that you work directly with your bank to receive reimbursement for any unauthorized payments. Unfortunately, Venmo cannot take direct action on any Venmo account other than your own.
Who used my information in Venmo?
Due to our Privacy Policy we’re unable to provide you directly with information about any Venmo account other than your own. However, if you are interested in pursuing further action against a Venmo user you suspect is using your information in an unauthorized manner, please file a police report and have Law Enforcement contact us. Once we receive the necessary documentation, we’ll be glad to cooperate through the appropriate channels.
How did this happen? How can I protect myself?
For additional information on how to protect your personal and financial information, please look over our article on personal security. This will help explain how your information was breached and how someone else was able to use that information.