Is Venmo Safe? Security Review
3/5
Overall Safety Score
★
★
★
★
★
Verdict: Venmo is reasonably safe for casual payments between friends when properly configured, but its default privacy settings expose your transactions publicly. The app has solid encryption and fraud protection, but the social features create unnecessary privacy risks. We recommend using Venmo with caution and adjusting your privacy settings immediately.
Venmo is one of the most popular peer-to-peer payment apps in the United States, with over 80 million users. While it offers convenience for splitting bills and paying friends, there are legitimate security and privacy concerns you should understand before using the app.
Worried about your Venmo account? Aura monitors your credit at all three bureaus, your bank accounts and the dark web — with up to $1M identity theft insurance if something goes wrong.
Get Aura - Best Overall Protection →Security Ratings Breakdown
| Category | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | 4/5 | |
| Privacy | 2/5 | |
| Track Record | 3/5 |
Security Features
- Bank-level encryption - Venmo uses 128-bit encryption for data transmission
- PIN/biometric protection - The app can be locked with a PIN, fingerprint, or Face ID
- Two-factor authentication - Optional 2FA via SMS (though not the strongest form)
- Purchase protection - Some transactions are covered by PayPal's buyer protection
- Fraud monitoring - Automated systems flag suspicious transactions
- Account recovery - Multiple verification steps for account recovery
- PCI DSS compliance - Meets payment card industry security standards
Privacy Concerns
- Public by default - Your transactions are visible to everyone on the internet by default, including who you paid and the memo
- Social feed - Friends can see all your transactions unless you change settings
- Friends list exposure - Your friends list is public by default
- Data collection - Venmo collects extensive data including location, contacts, and transaction patterns
- Data sharing - Information is shared with PayPal and third-party partners
- Transaction memos - Even "private" transactions show the memo to both parties, which can leak sensitive information
- Searchability - Anyone can search for your profile if they know your name or phone number
Past Security Incidents
- 2018 - Public transaction exposure: Researchers demonstrated that Venmo's public feed allowed anyone to track individuals' financial activities, including drug purchases and relationship patterns.
- 2019 - FTC complaint: Users filed complaints about unauthorized transactions and difficulty getting refunds.
- 2021 - $175 million fine: PayPal (Venmo's parent company) was fined by CFPB for multiple violations including making funds inaccessible to users.
- 2023 - Data scraping: Researchers scraped 200 million Venmo transactions from the public API, demonstrating ongoing privacy issues.
- Ongoing - Scam vulnerability: Venmo transactions are not reversible, making it a popular platform for scammers.
How to Stay Safe Using Venmo
- Make all transactions private. Go to Settings > Privacy and select "Private" for both default privacy setting and past transactions.
- Hide your friends list. In Privacy settings, change "Friends List" to "Private."
- Enable PIN/biometric lock. Require authentication every time you open the app.
- Turn on 2FA. Enable two-factor authentication in Security settings.
- Only pay people you know. Never send money to strangers, especially for goods or services.
- Be vague in memos. Don't include sensitive information in payment descriptions.
- Don't keep large balances. Transfer money to your bank regularly.
- Use a strong, unique password. Don't reuse passwords from other services.
- Review authorized apps. Periodically check what third-party apps have access to your Venmo.
Safer Alternatives
- Apple Cash / Google Pay - More private by design, no social features
- Zelle - Bank-integrated, no public transactions (but also no fraud protection)
- Cash App - Similar to Venmo but with optional Bitcoin and stock features
- PayPal - More business-focused with stronger buyer protection
For maximum privacy, consider using your bank's built-in transfer feature or Zelle, which don't have social components.
🛡
Worried About Your Venmo Data?
Aura monitors your personal information across the dark web, your financial accounts and all three credit bureaus — and alerts you in real time if something moves. Up to $1M in identity theft insurance is included on every plan.
Get Aura - Best Overall Protection →14-day free trial • 60-day money-back guarantee
Protect Yourself Further
Last updated: January 20, 2026