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, do not attempt to return the payment on your own or move the money. Please contact our Support team.
You may also want to block the person who paid you to prevent them from doing so again.
If you’re concerned about the security of your Venmo account or if you notice unauthorized activity (transactions, transfer, account changes), let us know as soon as possible.
Go to Me > Settings > Get Help > Chat With Us in your Venmo app and ask for an agent.
You can also go to the Contact Us page and check out the options under Connect with Support. If you don’t have access to the Venmo app, you may need to call our team for help.
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.