Cash App owner Block to pay $175M over fraud caused by lax consumer protection practices
By 
Adrianne Appel2025-01-17T17:43:00
Block, the owner of Cash App and Square, will pay $175 million to settle allegations that its lax consumer protection practices put customers at high risk of fraud, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) said Thursday.
Banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions are subject to oversight by federal agencies, to ensure they follow rules intended to prevent fraud and lead to fairness for customers, investors, and competitors.
Payment apps have surged in popularity and, until recently, received little oversight because agencies weren’t clear whether and how existing rules could be applied to these novel entities. Payment apps now process over 13 billion transactions annually.
Related articles
-
News BriefNavy Federal Credit Union to pay $95M in fines, redress over ‘surprise’ overdraft fees
Navy Federal Credit Union will pay a $15 million fine and return $80 million in “surprise” overdraft fees to its members to resolve an enforcement action from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
-
ArticleFraud risks grow as cost of living soars
Just as fraud grew during the Covid-19 pandemic, so will it now flourish with prices at historic highs. The question is just how widespread this fraud surge will prove to be and what can be done to help prevent it.
-
ArticleCash App breached by former employee; 8.2M affected
Approximately 8.2 million U.S. customers of Cash App Investing have been notified of a data breach carried out by a former employee of the mobile payment service provider.
More from Regulatory Enforcement
-
ArticleFinCEN cuts off 10 Mexican casinos from U.S. financial system for laundering cartel drug money
Ten Mexican cartels will be severed from the U.S. financial system for laundering money for the Sinaloa Cartel criminal organization, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
-
News BriefCompliance concerns surface at Fannie Mae following internal probe
A probe into Fannie Mae uncovered compliance and governance concerns involving FHFA director Bill Pulte and other senior officials. The result, so far at least, was not to address the concerns uncovered but to fire staff in Fannie Mae’s ethics and internal investigations unit.
-
ArticleDOJ dismisses indictment against Cassava advisor amid legal flaws
The DOJ dropped a June 2024 indictment against a Cassava Sciences advisor, closing a case tied to an alleged short-selling scheme and related government probes. The case was criticized for fundamental flaws in evidence and legal procedures.