​Clearwater Police Warn Of Phone Scam Targeting Venmo Accounts

CLEARWATER, FL — Clearwater Police detectives are warning residents and visitors about a scam related to cell phones and Venmo accounts.

The cell phone app allows users to pay friends and family using money users have in Venmo, or link your bank account or debit card quickly.

Six times within the last month, a person or people have approached residents and asked if they could use their phone to call for a ride or get a hold of a friend or relative. The person claims not to have his or her own phone.

When the phone is handed over, the person pretends to make a call, but instead goes to the victim's Venmo account and transfers money without the victim's knowledge.

All six victims have seen hundreds of dollars transferred from their accounts. At times, one of the suspects distracts the victim while the transaction is being made.

Clearwater Police detectives warn residents and visitors not to let anyone borrow their phones, no matter what someone says the need is.

If you want to be a good Samaritan, offer to dial a number for someone, then put the device on speaker phone. Under no circumstances, especially in the era of the coronavirus, should residents hand their phones over to a stranger for use.