07/22/2026
Just had to navigate one of the best scams I've ever seen.
I was contacted by someone a few days ago for a birthday photoshoot. Everything seemed legit(ish), i asked all the right questions and asked for money, which is usually where the conversation ends.
They took it all the way to booking, and tried to send me payment via venmo, and of course thats where it got weird. They tried to say that venmo was requiring more money and I even received an email from "venmo" asking me to accept the $50 deposit I was requesting from the person. Except this venmo email was a gmail.
Sus #2.
In doing my due diligence, I went to the FAQ page on my venmo and found their email that clearly isn't a gmail.
This one was good though, and if you arent a person who is familiar with venmo and how it works, I could see how you would totally fall for this one. I am sharing this incase this person tries again with another local photographer, or just to simply raise awareness.
Here's the email ->
***********
Venmo logo
Delorian Smith image
You just Received
$50.00
Pending transaction
Transaction details
Status
Pending
Transaction ID
4610293496884032154
Venmo logo
For any issues, including the recipient not receiving funds, please call us at:
+1 (786) 502-0361
This payment is currently on hold because your account doesn’t meet the $600 minimum in accordance with our business account policy, the sender has been notified regarding the necessary steps to complete this transaction. if we determine that there is a violation by either party, your ability to transfer to your bank account may be restricted.
Our team is available to assist you through the verification process and answer any questions you may have.
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Venmo RT