⚠️ Venmo/Zelle Payment Scam Alert: April 2026

🚨 VENMO/ZELLE SCAM ALERT

Urgency: HIGH Reported Losses: $127,000 in past week

What’s happening?

Scammers are targeting people selling items on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and OfferUp. They send fake payment notifications claiming you’ve been overpaid.

How the scam works:

1. You list an item for $200
2. “Buyer” says they sent $400 by mistake
3. Asks you to refund $200 via Venmo/Zelle
4. Their original payment bounces/fails
5. You’ve lost $200 to them

Red flags:

• Buyer insists on using payment app
• Claims they “accidentally” overpaid
• Wants you to send money back
• Generic profile, new account
• Refuses to meet in person

What to do:

1. Never send money back to buyers
2. Wait 3-5 days for payment to actually clear
3. Use cash for local transactions
4. Check your payment app balance, not just notifications

If you were scammed:

1. Contact your bank immediately
2. File police report
3. Report to FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
4. Report to Venmo/Zelle support

Stay safe! Tell your elderly relatives about this scam.