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Venmo text scam: how to spot the fake alert

Editorially reviewed · Last updated September 18, 2026

This illustrated Venmo pending-payment pattern is a scam. The illustrated Venmo message uses urgency and a look-alike link to collect information. Verify the account independently.

Exhibit · Text message

Text Message · Today 8:41 AM
from +1 (555) 014-2090
Venmo: A payment of $499.00 to an unknown recipient is pending. If this wasn't you, cancel it now: venmo-secure[.]info/cancel
Illustrative text message · not an original screenshot

Other versions you might get: A text about a login from a new device, a code to “confirm” a payment you never sent, “Your Venmo account is frozen,” or a fake refund that asks you to “verify” your bank to receive it.

Reported versions of this message

Each source below documented a text. Web addresses are defanged, and identifying values may be redacted; the remaining wording follows the source. Similar wording is a reason to check independently, not proof that two messages came from the same sender.

  • “Venmo here! NEVER share this code via call/text. ONLY YOU should enter the code. BEWARE: If someone asks for the code, it's a scam. Code: 346778 Sign-in Detected ! Location : Near , Goodyear (AZ) US. -iPad. Thursday, 25 May, 2023 Not you ? Tap the link to sign-in now !”
    Documented by Reddit r/Scams · May 2023

What to do right now

  1. Don't tap the link or call any number in it. Don't reply — even “STOP” tells them the number is live.
  2. Check the real way. Open the Venmo app yourself or type venmo.com — any real alert shows up there.
  3. If you already tapped or entered anything: change your Venmo password from the app, turn on two-factor, and call your bank if you shared card or login details.
  4. Report it. Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM), then file at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
  5. Delete the message.

Reduce the risk of another scam

Do not use the message’s link to check the claim. Open the real service yourself. If you paid or shared account details, start with what to do after a scam. Blocking and reporting can reduce unwanted contact, but they cannot stop every attempt or tell you how the sender found you.

● Public service · free steps first

Take the free protection steps first

A suspicious message does not tell us how someone found your details. If you shared personal information, start with the official recovery guidance. You can also freeze your credit for free.

Decide what protection you need

Start with the free controls above. Compare what a paid service would add only after deciding which problem remains.

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Frequently asked

Is the Venmo “pending payment” or “suspicious activity” text a scam?
An unexpected Venmo text about a payment or locked account is a warning, not proof by itself. Scammers use those stories to steal credentials. Do not use the text’s link: open the app or venmo.com yourself to check activity, and contact official support if anything remains unclear.
Venmo texted me a code to confirm it's me — should I send it back?
Never. Venmo says it will never ask for a verification code sent to your phone — no real Venmo agent will ask for it under any circumstances. If someone calls or texts claiming to be Venmo and wants you to read back a code, they're trying to take over your account. That code is for you to type into the app, never to share.
Venmo “support” asked me to send a payment to verify my account — is that real?
No. Venmo says it will never ask you to send money to “verify” your account, install another app, or let someone access your device — those are all scam moves. Reach real Venmo support only through the app or venmo.com, and report a suspicious text by forwarding a screenshot (including the full phone number) to phishing@venmo.com.
I got a text that Venmo detected a new sign-in or a login from a new device — is it real?
Open Venmo independently and check activity and account notices. A new-sign-in text can be imitated, so do not use its link to verify itself. If anything is unfamiliar or you entered credentials, secure the account through official support. Report a suspicious text through Venmo’s published phishing route.

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Sources

  1. 01Common Scams on Venmo— Venmo
  2. 02Reporting Fake or Suspicious Messages or Emails— Venmo
  3. 03How To Recognize and Report Spam Text Messages— consumer.ftc.gov

Pass it on

Help protect someone else

If this could have fooled you, it can fool someone you know — a parent, a friend, the family group chat. It's safe to forward, and stands on its own as a record for a bank or the police.