A class-action settlement has been reached involving Cash App’s parent company, Block, Inc. (and associated entities), over allegations that it sent unsolicited promotional text messages via its “Invite Friends” or referral features. The settlement fund is approximately $12.5 million. The Verge+3thetempletheatre.com+3Investopedia+3
Specifically:
- The lawsuit claims that Washington state residents were sent referral texts from Cash App without their consent — violating the state’s commercial electronic mail laws and consumer protection acts. thetempletheatre.com+1
- Those texts were sent between November 14, 2019 and August 7, 2025 (or similar date ranges) to phone numbers in Washington state. Investopedia+1
- Eligible claimants may receive somewhere in the ballpark of $88 to $147 depending on how many claims are filed. thetempletheatre.com
Thus — if you live or lived in Washington and received an unsolicited referral text tied to Cash App, you may be eligible.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible for this particular settlement, you must generally meet the following criteria:
- Be a resident of the state of Washington at the time the text message was received. thetempletheatre.com
- Have received a referral text message from Cash App (via its referral/invite-friends feature) during the defined period (e.g., from Nov 2019 to Aug 2025) without having provided prior consent. Investopedia+1
- Submit a valid claim before the deadline. Investopedia
There are a few nuances:
- The previous settlement (separate from this one) involved unauthorized access and data‐security breaches, and had different eligibility rules (e.g., account access between 2018-2024) with payouts up to $2,500. Money
- For this referral-text case, you don’t necessarily need to prove large out-of-pocket losses — the main issue is the receipt of an unsolicited text. thetempletheatre.com
How much can you get?
- The settlement fund is $12.5 million, which must cover all valid claims, legal fees, costs, etc. thetempletheatre.com
- The projected individual payout is approximately $88–$147 if the number of valid claims is in a lower bracket (e.g., ~100,000 claims) but could be lower if more people file. For example: if 200,000 valid claims, individual payout might drop to ~$88-$110. thetempletheatre.com
- The payout amount is not fixed; it depends on how many people submit claims and how many of them are valid.
- If you also were eligible under the other settlement (for breaches) you might have or could still claim under that (but that is different).
What you should do (step-by-step)
- Check if you received a referral text from Cash App (or via Cash App) during the relevant period, while residing in Washington. The text might say something like “Try Cash App using my code…” or “You’ve been invited to Cash App…”.
- Visit the official settlement website (for example, a dedicated site for the Cash App settlement:
cashappsecuritysettlement.com). cashappsecuritysettlement.com+1 - File a claim: you’ll likely need to provide:
- Your phone number (the one that got the text)
- Proof you were living in Washington at the time
- Possibly the text message, or at least confirm you received it and didn’t consent to it
- Choose a payment method: the article indicates payment could be via Venmo, PayPal, or check. thetempletheatre.com
- Submit your claim before the deadline. For this text-message settlement in Washington, the deadline is October 27, 2025. Investopedia+1
- After you file, you’ll wait for court approval of the settlement and then distribution of payments (which may take some time). thetempletheatre.com
Why it matters
- Many people may not realize they’re eligible simply because they ignored or deleted the text, or didn’t know they could file a claim. This settlement highlights that even unsolicited texts (if they violate consumer laws) can trigger tangible compensation.
- With fintech and mobile payment apps like Cash App (which has tens of millions of users) Wikipedia regulatory scrutiny is increasing around referrals, data security, consent, and user protection.
- Even though individual payouts might seem modest ($100-$150), if you qualify it’s essentially free money for something you didn’t consent to.
- Helps reinforce consumer awareness: keep your records, know your rights about unsolicited messages, and act before deadlines.
Important caveats & things to watch
- Do not assume you’re eligible just because you use Cash App. If you did not receive the referral text (or didn’t live in Washington during receipt), you may not qualify.
- The payout is not guaranteed; it depends on valid claims. If many people file, the individual share could drop.
- Beware of scams: Always use the official settlement site. Don’t pay someone to file for you; legitimate claims should be free.
- The company (Block/Cash App) is not admitting wrongdoing in many of these settlements — the settlement is often a way to avoid prolonged litigation. Investopedia
- Timing: Even after filing you may wait many months before you see any payment.
- Tax implications: Check if the payment is taxable income in your state.
- Other settlements: As noted, Cash App also had a separate settlement covering unauthorized account access (up to $2,500) for users from Aug 2018 to Aug 2024. If you were affected there, you might also have filed. Money+1
- Residency matters: This referral-text lawsuit is specific to Washington state residents; if you lived elsewhere your eligibility may differ.
- Deadline matters: If you miss October 27 2025 (for the referral-text settlement) you likely lose your chance. Investopedia
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Q: I live in another state (not Washington). Am I eligible?
A: For this specific settlement about unsolicited referral texts, the claim is limited to Washington state residents who received the texts. For other settlements (e.g., data breaches) the eligibility may be broader and apply nationwide.
Q: What if I did consent to the text/message?
A: If you consented (i.e., you allowed the referral/invite text to be sent to you or your number), then you likely are not eligible under this claim, since the allegation is about un-consented messages.
Q: Do I need to provide detailed documentation or proof?
A: According to the notice, for the referral-text settlement you may not need extensive documentation — proof of receipt of text plus residency may suffice. thetempletheatre.com However, for other settlements (like breach/unauthorized access) you will need more detailed proof.
Q: How will I receive payment?
A: The settlement site indicates likely payment methods include PayPal, Venmo or paper check, depending on what you choose. thetempletheatre.com
Q: How long will it take to receive money after filing?
A: It varies. First the court must approve the settlement, claims must be processed, then payments distributed. It could take months or longer. Money
Q: What happens if a lot of people claim? Will my payout shrink?
A: Yes — since the fund is fixed ($12.5 M) and shared among all valid claimants, more claimants mean smaller individual payouts. The estimates ($88–$147) are based on projected claim counts. thetempletheatre.com
What you should do now
- If you think you received a Cash App referral/invite text you didn’t ask for, and lived in Washington at the time, go to the official site and file a claim right away to avoid missing the deadline.
- Keep screenshots or transcripts of the referral text if you still have them (date/time/phone number) — they could be helpful.
- Check your previous mail/email to see if you received a notice about the settlement (sometimes class members are emailed or mailed a notice).
- Don’t get distracted by bogus “settlement” offers — always verify the website and ensure you’re dealing with the official claims administrator.
- Mark your calendar for the deadline (Oct 27 2025) and set reminders — missing deadlines is the most common way to lose out.
- If you were affected by unauthorized access, fraudulent transactions or data security issues with Cash App, check if you were or are eligible for other settlements (e.g., the $15 M data-security settlement).
Bottom line
If you are (or were) a Washington state resident who got an unsolicited referral text from Cash App between roughly November 2019 and August 2025, then yes — you might be eligible for a payout of up to $147 under this settlement. While that amount isn’t life-changing, it is free money for something you didn’t consent to. It’s well worth checking your eligibility and filing before the deadline runs out.
Even if you don’t absolutely know whether you received a text, checking is quick and low risk. When it comes to class-action settlements, many eligible people simply never claim. Missing out because of oversight would be unfortunate—so it’s better to act proactively.