topic Re: Someone using my gmail address to set up Venmo account in Scams & Fraud

Someone using my gmail address to set up Venmo account

JosephC779401 — Sun, 31 May 2026 11:45:50 GMT

I recently received a "welcome to Venmo" email in my gmail account. I didn't think much of it (I get a lot of spam in that account). But later I thought, "wait, I've been a Venmo user for years, I shouldn't be getting a welcome email." Sure enough, after checking it appears that someone has used my gmail address to help set up a new Venmo account. I've reported to the FTC. Changed all passwords for my online accounts. Froze all credit reports. I tried reporting to Venmo, but good luck with that: intercepted at every turn by a "beta" AI agent that doesn't seem to understand how to handle this type of situation, beyond sending me back to the help page. The "contact us" also tends to loop around back to the help page or the AI agent. The phone voice menu also has trouble with this type of situation and wants me to try chat (with the AI agent). In the meantime, the scammer WAS more adept. He/she appears to have set up the account with a phone number, then added my email address, then set MFA for attempts to change the password. Sigh. I'll keep trying to contact Venmo and watch my accounts like a hawk. Other ideas?

Re: Someone using my gmail address to set up Venmo account

SummerOnTheWay1 — Sun, 31 May 2026 11:50:21 GMT

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Re: Someone using my gmail address to set up Venmo account

Lumaneta — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:07:20 GMT

I would separate this into two problems: is the email itself real, and did someone actually attach your address to a Venmo account.

1. Do not use links or phone numbers from the email.
2. Open Venmo only from the app or by typing the site yourself, then sign in to your real account.
3. In that account, check the email addresses, phone numbers, cards, and bank accounts on file and remove anything you do not recognize.
4. In Gmail, turn on 2-step verification if you have not already, and check forwarding rules, filters, and recovery options so no one can quietly intercept resets.
5. Keep watching the bank/card activity tied to Venmo. A credit freeze is smart, but payment-app misuse often shows up there before it shows up as a new credit account.
6. When Venmo support loops you back to the bot, keep using the phrase unauthorized Venmo account using my email address and ask for the email to be removed or the duplicate account to be closed.

You were right not to trust the welcome email.