Receiving a payment from a stranger
You might receive an unexpected payment from a stranger if someone pays your username or contact info by mistake. Issues like this do not mean that your Venmo account has been compromised. This can happen when you have a similar name or username to another Venmo user.
If you received a payment on Venmo from someone you don't know, please contact our Support team for assistance. Do not attempt to return the payment on your own or move the money.
You may also want to block the person who paid you to prevent them from doing so again.
If you also see activity on your Venmo account that you did not do (like unauthorized transfers, outbound payments, or changes to your account), please reset your password and contact our Support team as soon as possible.
Requests from a stranger
Requests on Venmo work similar to payments, so it's possible for a stranger to request money from you. If you're not expecting a request from anyone, it's best to decline the request.
In some cases, you may receive a payment request from someone who appears to be a friend or relative. This can be a common scam tactic, so we recommend contacting your friend or family member outside of Venmo to confirm the legitimacy of the request before taking any action.
If you received an email notifying you of a payment request and that request does not appear in your Venmo app or on the web, you may have received a fraudulent email.