Apple Cash has made it incredibly convenient to send and receive money. However, payments aren't always instant: security checks can delay funds becoming available. It's important to be cautious and recognize common scams.
Use Apple Cash Wisely
For person-to-person payments, Apple recommends sending and receiving money only with people you know and trust. This advice doesn't mean Apple Cash is limited to personal transfers: you can also spend your balance with merchants using Apple Pay or an Apple Cash virtual card number.
Apple provides warnings when you attempt to send money via Apple Cash to someone outside your contacts or if a transaction is considered risky. Pay close attention to these warnings and exercise caution when making payments.
Common Scams to Watch Out For
- Don't send money for items you haven't received – You might not recover an advance payment. Paying a marketplace seller outside the marketplace via Apple Cash adds risk.
- Don't send money in exchange for a check – A scammer's check may bounce after you've sent the payment.
- Be wary of scammers posing as employees – Treat demands for person-to-person Apple Cash payments from supposed businesses or government agencies as a warning sign. Hang up and contact the organization using an independently verified number.
- Don't send money to fake tech support – Apple never asks for your Apple Account password or verification codes to provide support. Don't disclose your device passcode or recovery key, either. Apple won't ask you to send an Apple Cash payment to test your device.
See Apple's Apple Cash scam guidance for these warnings.
Key Takeaways
- Only send and receive person-to-person Apple Cash payments with people you know and trust.
- Heed Apple's warnings about risky transactions.
- Never send money in exchange for a check.
- Independently verify anyone claiming to represent a business or government agency.
- Don't share security information or send money to unsolicited "tech support."
If you've sent a suspicious payment, check its status in Wallet. If it's pending, open your Apple Cash card, tap the transaction, tap it again, then tap Cancel Payment. Completed payments can't be canceled. If you suspect a scam, contact an Apple Cash Specialist at Green Dot Bank through Apple's official support guidance; don't assume recovery is guaranteed.
By following these guidelines, you can use Apple Cash more cautiously while reducing your exposure to common scams.