A new scam is targeting people through tap-to-pay donation requests, often outside retail stores such as Walmart. In the case highlighted in this USA Today article* (, a woman believed she was making a $50 charitable donation by tapping her phone on a scammer’s device. Instead, the transaction was manipulated, and approximately $1,000 was transferred from her account. The scam relies on the speed and convenience of contactless payments, making it difficult for victims to notice unauthorized amounts before the transaction is completed.
According to the report, scammers approach shoppers with what appears to be a legitimate fundraising effort and use mobile payment technology to process the donation. Victims may think they are approving a small contribution, while the scammer enters a much larger amount. Because contactless transactions are designed to be quick and frictionless, consumers may not carefully review the payment details before authorizing the transaction.
The highlights the importance of verifying charities and carefully reviewing payment amounts before completing any tap-to-pay transaction. Consumers are encouraged to donate directly through trusted organizations rather than through solicitors whose legitimacy cannot be confirmed.
Bottom line: The convenience of tap-to-pay can be exploited by fraudsters. Consumers should slow down, verify the payment amount, and ensure they are dealing with a legitimate organization before authorizing any contactless donation.
*She thought she donated $50. A tap-to-pay scam took $1,000 instead, USA Today, 7/27/26