Easy to Use, Mobile Payment Apps Are Also Easy to Misuse (Published 2023) (2024)

FAQs

What is the new warning about payment apps? ›

Venmo, Zelle, Cash App put on notice after claims payment apps leave consumers vulnerable to fraud. Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App are leaving consumers vulnerable to fraud, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg alleged.

Limited Acceptance and Reliance on Technology

Additionally, mobile payment apps rely heavily on technology, which can sometimes be a disadvantage. If your phone battery dies or you don't have access to an internet connection, you won't be able to make payments using the app.

Don't give any personal or sensitive information like your username, PIN, or password. When sending to someone you know, double-check their information before you hit send. the person you're sending money to. Use multi-factor authentication.

Potential scams and hackers.

The biggest downside to using Venmo is the potential for your money to be stolen. If a hacker gains access to your Venmo, it's pretty easy to change the associated bank account – so the hacker could change the account to their own and transfer the money in your Venmo to their bank.

Venmo, Zelle and Cash App are leaving consumers vulnerable to fraud that's "draining bank accounts of significant sums of money," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in letters to the companies that own those financial apps.

Usually, mobile payment apps are safe compared to other payment methods. Most of that safety comes down to the tokenization mentioned in the previous section. Not only are these tokens different from your card number, but they are also encrypted and unique for each transaction.

Google Pay

Google Pay works on Android and iOS devices as well as the web. “It uses a token system that adds an extra layer of security,” says Brian Crane, founder of Spread Great Ideas. “The system substitutes actual card data with encrypted, virtual data.

Identity theft is the most popular type of fraud associated with mobile payments. Criminals can effortlessly make purchases and access personal information on a lost or stolen smartphone, often without the consumer's knowledge.

Is it safer to pay bills online or by phone? ›

It's generally safer to use your bank's online bill pay because you have more control over the payment process. You set the amount and date of payment rather than allowing the service provider to take the money from your bank account on their terms.

Open the Google Wallet app . Pay contactless setup. Check if you're ready to make contactless payments.

Both of the payment services are decently safe, have user-friendly interfaces, and allow you to conveniently send money when you need it. Zelle stands out from Venmo with its absence of instant transfer fees, but it also cannot be used as a wallet. So, if you need a wallet function, you should go for Venmo .

Venmo: Safety and Security. Both PayPal and Venmo offer standard security features to keep your information safe. The services protect each transaction with encryption, two-factor authentication (2FA) of your account and a customer support team to assist you in the event of a problem.

Don't hold large balances in your account: Only funds added to your account via direct deposit or remote check capture are Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)-insured, so Venmo is not a safe place to store large amounts of money. Your money is safer stored in your bank account.

Most apps have in-app purchase or free trial that will require a payment method. There are very little apps that are totally free.

The FedNow Service went live on July 20, 2023. It is available to depository institutions in the United States and enables individuals and businesses to send instant payments through their depository institution accounts. The service is a flexible, neutral platform that supports a broad variety of instant payments.

On your Android device, go to subscriptions in Google Play. Select the subscription you want to cancel. Tap Cancel subscription.

The scammer contacts you and needs your social security number or Cash App details to send you the money. Scammers might also say you need to pay a tax through Cash App before they can release the funds. No government agency will ever contact you through Cash App, or ask you to send money through a payment app.