My Cash App Was Hacked… What Do I Do?

Cash App is one of the most convenient online payment tools, and it has a great reputation for being safe. However, the modern world is full of inventive scammers and hackers that can compromise even the most reputable apps. So, my cash app was hacked, what do I do?

Change your password right away and contact customer service if your Cash App was hacked. Check your activity page, select the fraudulent transaction, and tap “Dispute Charge” so Cash App can start the investigation process. They should initiate the process right away, but it can take 48 hours to begin. After that, you can receive a refund within 10 days, but it may take longer.

Contact your bank to request identity theft protection so they can monitor your card activity as well. Set up two-factor authentication to avoid getting hacked again. Follow along as we explore what to do when your Cash App gets hacked and highlight steps to take to prevent it.

How Did My Cash App Get Hacked?

Your Cash App can get hacked for many reasons but intercepted login codes and malware are the most common ways. Hackers use tools like network analyzers to steal data that comes through your network. This includes everything from your passwords and usernames to credit card information that helps them get into your Cash App account.

Hackers also malware to find weak points in your phone, tablet, or PC to retrieve personal information and give you viruses. For example, you may notice that your Cash App was hacked shortly after you interacted with a strange email or text. They have gotten smarter and sneakier over the years, so malware emails look more natural than ever.

A recent Vice article explored the world of hackers using malware and stealing login codes to sell Cash App accounts on the dark web. While it’s important to discover how your Cash App was hacked so it won’t happen again, your priority should be to protect your account and get your money back.

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What to Do When Your Cash App Gets Hacked

Create a New Password

Create a new password as soon as you find out your Cash App has been hacked. That way, the hacker won’t be able to log back into your account, that is unless they’ve already changed it. Simply enter your login pin on the app, tap on the profile icon at the top of the screen, and select “Privacy & Security”.  

Select “Change Cash Pin” at the bottom of the screen then enter your current PIN and email address. From there, the app will prompt you to create a new password. Make sure to choose a unique, unpredictable PIN that shares nothing in common with your previous PIN. They will send you an email with a confirmation code that you must enter to verify the new PIN.

Request a Refund

You can’t cancel a transfer or payment if it’s already gone through when you get hacked, so you’ll need to request a refund. Open the app and select the “Activity” tab. Scroll through the list of payments and transfers and tap on the payments that you didn’t authorize.

Select the unauthorized payments, tap the three dots beside it, and press “Need Help & Cash App Support”. Click on the option that says “Dispute This Transaction” to initiate the refund process. Try to be patient as it can take 48 hours for the investigation process to even start before they can issue a refund.

Reach Out to Your Bank

The investigation and refund process can take a while through Cash App. However, you can protect yourself during the process if you reach out to your bank and let them know what is going on. They may recommend that you freeze your card, and it’s worth doing if the hacker withdraws a large sum of money.

However, that isn’t always necessary unless the hacker also got into your other accounts, such as PayPal, or if they have your card information. At the very least, your bank can monitor your card activity and you can sign up for identity theft protection if they offer it. They will notify you if any unusual charges appear in that case, so they may catch them before you do.

Stop Using Your Cash App For Now

Unless you rely on Cash App for work, you should stop using your account after it gets hacked. If the hacker still has access to your account, you may leave yourself vulnerable to further unauthorized charges. Wait to use your account again until the Cash App team resolves the problem.

How To Protect Your Cash App

Use Two-Factor Authentication

The best way to protect your Cash App account is to enable two-factor authentication. With this system, you will receive an additional login code each time you enter your PIN. This makes it harder for hackers to get into your account as the login code will go to your email or phone number.

You can tell someone is trying to get into your account if you receive a login code when you didn’t try to get into your account. Notify Cash App customer service right away if this happens.

Ignore Information Requests

Never open any personal information request that seemingly comes from Cash App. Cash App will never request your PIN or bank information via a phone call, email, or text message. They state this on their website, and it’s common for hackers to reach out with fraudulent messages from Cash App.

Only Pay For Available Services

Scammers frequently use Cash App because of the anonymity. Ignore any online posts where people offer services that aren’t available yet and request payment through Cash App. Hackers and fraudulent vendors do this with preorders for concert tickets, movies, and video games all the time. Only use official vendors, like GameStop, Ticket Master, and Fandango.

Avoid Scalpers

Ticket scalpers often take advantage of people with prices that are too good to be true. For example, this Redditor was swindled by someone who scammed him out of money for concert tickets. Not only can they take your money for a product you won’t get, but they can take this chance to hack you as well, especially if they have network analyzer software.

Regularly Update Your Password

Update your Cash App password as often as possible so you are less vulnerable to hackers. It’s recommended that you change your passwords for your apps and accounts every 3 months. Keep track of your passwords on a piece of paper instead of in an email or note on your phone.

Hackers can get into your phone’s notes or email and easily find your updated passwords. While it can be annoying to change your PIN that often, it’s a great way to ensure you won’t get hacked.

Use a VPN in Public

Hackers take advantage of public networks to steal people’s personal information. For example, you could be casually sitting in a café and send your friend some money to cover your cup of coffee through Cash App. If a hacker is in the same café, they could easily search through the public Wi-Fi network and target your phone.

However, that’s not a problem if you use a VPN. A VPN, or virtual private network, hides your IP address from others and encrypts your data. This can protect your Cash App account as well as the valuable information that you store on your phone or laptop.

Keep Track of Your Account

Check your Cash App at least several days per week to monitor activity even if you don’t use it that often. It’s easy to miss payments that you didn’t make in many cases, so it’s important to check your account activity page for unauthorized charges. This doesn’t take much time, and it’s better to catch fraudulent charges sooner than later to start the investigation process.

How Long Does It Take to Get Your Money Back From Cash App?

It can take up to 10 or more days to get your money back from Cash App. This can be frustrating, Cash App’s unauthorized payment investigation process varies based on the circumstances. For example, they may not even initiate the process for 2 days unless you report the associated card as stolen.

After that, Cash App will communicate with the vendor or investigate the account that you believe hacked or swindled you. You may receive your refund before Cash App even completes the investigation if it’s clear that you were the victim of a hacker or con artist.

So, What Happens When Your Cash App is Hacked?

Contact Cash App’s customer service and change your password right away if your account is hacked. Select the fraudulent transactions and tap “dispute this transaction” to start the process. Stop using your Cash App account until the problem is resolved, and you will hopefully get your refund within 10 days!