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How would you feel if all your family connections were shared in public, online, right down to your grandchildren and closest friends?
Well, it happened to President Joe Biden, and it could certainly happen to you.
An offhand mention in The New York Times that the leader of the free world used Venmo, a peer-to-peer payment app, to send money to his grandkids led other media outlets to quickly determine that the president's friends and family connections were online for anyone to see. By the end of the day his use was discovered, both the president's and first lady's accounts were no longer there.
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The Venmo smartphone app is designed to make it easy to send money to friends and family. The catch: It includes a social networking feature that shares your connections and transfers with friends.
"I use Venmo all the time,” says Judie Stanford, 54, who lives on a ranch outside Eldorado, Texas. “I have never understood why people don't just select the option to make all of their transactions private.” Stanford also points out that friends tend to share too much on the app, like jokingly thanking someone for paying for their cocaine.
10 most popular payment apps
Although adults ages 18 to 49 are more likely to use mobile payment apps, almost half of older adults say they use the payment platforms sometimes or frequently. What all adults say they've used:
1. PayPal, 59%
2. Venmo, 21%
3. Zelle, 17%
4. Square, 12%
5 (tie). Apple Pay, 11%
5 (tie). Google Pay, 11%
7. Facebook Pay, 7%
8. Cash App, 4%
9 (tie). Circle Pay (discontinued), 1%
9 (tie). Popmoney, 1%
Source: AARP Research
Nov. 4-15, 2019, online survey, margin of error plus or minus 2.5 percentage points
Fortunately, if you are among the more than 7 in 10 adults who use a money transfer app, according to AARP research, you can enjoy the convenience it offers without exposing sensitive information or making yourself vulnerable to hackers. Here are a few tips on the more popular money transfer apps, as well as some general advice about protecting your accounts.
Cash App is affiliated with Square
Cash App is a mobile payment service developed by Square Inc., a payment app used extensively by small retailers. You transfer money to friends and family using the app. When you set up an account linked to your debit card, you won't pay any fees. The money is usually transferred within one to three days.
Tip: Don't link Cash App to a credit card, which can expose you to more scams and will also cost you a 3 percent fee for each transaction.
PayPal was first on the scene
The old-timer of online payment services, PayPal was launched in 1998 and acquired Venmo in 2013. On its own, PayPal has been a longtime favorite of online sellers, and the company has years of experience dealing with security issues and hackers. While it's the most complex service, it's also the most flexible, including international transfers and an invoicing option for small businesses.
Tip: PayPal charges a lot of fees, depending on the transaction. Using a PayPal or personal bank account, PayPal charges 5 percent for international personal transactions. Credit card payments for international transactions cost 7.9 percent.
Venmo adds more privacy
Responding to the exposure of the president's personal data, Venmo recently changed its settings to make it easier to keep all your transactions and contacts private. Go to Settings and then select Privacy in the app to see your options.
Additionally, note that some fees on Venmo will be going up Aug. 2. An “instant” transfer to your bank account, which the firm estimates takes 30 minutes or less, will cost 1.5 percent, with a 25-cent minimum and a $15 maximum, up from 1 percent and a $10 maximum. “Slow” transfers, which take one to three business days, will remain free.
Tip: Like many other apps, Venmo will want you to add all your Facebook contacts automatically to your address book. To prevent all that information from potential exposure, don't allow it. Add an individual's contact information only as you need it.
Zelle has ties to 7 big banks
Zelle has the backing of most major banks. Seven of them — Bank of America, BB&T, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo — own the company that created it. Using your existing bank app or website, you can transfer money from your account to anyone using their registered email or mobile number.
And it's free. Simply opt into it on your bank's website and enroll your email or phone number. Then whenever a friend wants to pay you for their half of dinner or a wager they lost, they just use their banking app or website to send the money to you using your email address. The money is deposited in your bank account in minutes.
Tip: Always double-check the email address or phone number where you're sending the money. If you get the information wrong or send it to a crook, you probably won't see that money again.
Keep your guard up while using any of the apps
No matter which money transfer app you use — Apple Pay and Google Pay are two other popular ones that often come with smartphones — you should always follow some important advice.
• Don't overshare. Hackers use personal information in a variety of scams to trick you into sending them money.
• Beware of public Wi-Fi . Don't do any banking or money transfers using the Wi-Fi in a hotel or coffee shop, where hackers can snoop on you.
• Steer clear of strange emails. Typical attempts to steal your money will come via an email claiming a problem with a payment or an attempt to send you money. Almost without exception, these are messages from criminals trying to lure you into divulging information about your bank account, credit cards or money app.
"You have to be worried about your email because that is the number one way they going to come after you,” says Shane Harris, senior director of product management at Mimecast, an international cybersecurity firm with U.S. headquarters in the Boston area.
So don't give the crooks your data in an email. Never click on a link in an email and instead always go directly to the site or app you use.
John R. Quain is a contributing writer who covers personal technology, vehicle technology and privacy issues. His work also appears in The New York Times and PC Magazine and on CBS News.
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