My son got a call from someone claiming to be from Capital One. They said there was suspicious activity on his account involving CashApp. They guided him through some steps, and by the end of it, he lost $3,500. This happened two days ago, and we just found out.
Capital One says there’s nothing they can do, and CashApp says they’ll investigate. He’s learned his lesson and won’t fall for this again, but is there anything we can do now? Are there certain things to say or specific places to contact? What’s the likelihood of CashApp actually helping?
Hey, just a heads-up! Since you posted this here, you might start getting private messages from people claiming they know a hacker or recovery expert who can help you get the money back—for a fee. These are recovery scammers. Never trust advice in private messages; keep everything out in the open here so the community can help you spot scams.
Quick reminder about the forum rules: don’t share personal contact info like phone numbers or last names. Be kind and avoid insults. Scambaiting posts or personal army requests aren’t allowed. If you see rule-breaking content, use the report button, and we’ll review it.
Feel free to ask questions if you’re unsure about anything!
Unfortunately, since he authorized the transactions, it’s unlikely the bank or CashApp will help. Banks are responsible for protecting accounts from unauthorized access, but they can’t stop people from willingly sending money, even if it’s to a scammer.
Capital One isn’t at fault for someone pretending to be them, and CashApp isn’t at fault for letting him use the app. The real blame lies with the scammer, and they’re probably in a place where they can’t be prosecuted.
Make sure your son knows about recovery scams because scammers might try to trick him again. Scammers often target victims repeatedly with different tactics. This forum has tons of examples of scams he can learn from.
@Frank
Recovery scams are a common follow-up. They target people who’ve already been scammed by offering to help recover the money. These so-called recovery agents or hackers will ask for fees upfront and string victims along until they stop paying.
If someone reaches out in private claiming they can help, block them immediately. Advice should always come in the open so others can spot potential scams. Stay safe!
There’s probably nothing you can do now, but this can be a valuable lesson for your son. Teach him how to recognize scams and avoid them in the future. If he wants to turn this into something positive, he could share his experience with friends to warn them.
@nellysmith
Just be careful how he shares it. Posting phrases like “I’ve been scammed” or “I’ve been hacked” on social media can attract bots and fake accounts offering help. They’re just more scammers trying to take advantage. There are so many angles they can use!
This should be a lesson to never trust anyone who calls claiming to be your bank. Caller ID can be faked. If he gets another call like this, he should hang up and call the number on the back of his card to confirm it’s legit.
Also, watch out for people messaging you privately offering to recover your money—they’re scammers too. If neither CashApp nor Capital One helps, the money is gone.
The money’s probably gone, but you should still report it to both companies.
Your son’s probably feeling embarrassed and upset. Remind him that this won’t matter as much in the future, and it doesn’t define him. Tell him a joke or reassure him—at least he’s not the scammer in this situation.
Help him clean up his digital footprint and learn some banking security tips. This has happened to smarter people than any of us!
