{"id":17104,"date":"2025-04-03T07:10:39","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T11:10:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/?post_type=is-it-scam&#038;p=17104"},"modified":"2025-04-03T07:10:40","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T11:10:40","slug":"is-upside-a-scam","status":"publish","type":"is-it-scam","link":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/is-it-scam\/is-upside-a-scam\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Upside a Scam?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#what-is-upside\">What Is Upside?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#is-upside-a-scam\">Is Upside a Scam?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#so-should-you-use-upside\">So, Should You Use Upside?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#how-to-use-upside-safely\">How to Use Upside Safely<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re thinking of using Upside, you need to know: Is Upside a scam?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below, we explain whether Upside is a scam and discuss some steps you can take to improve your safety when using this app.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-upside\">What Is Upside?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Upside is a free mobile app that you can use to get cash rewards on everyday purchases like groceries, dining, and gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" src=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/upside-2-1024x538.png\" alt=\"Upside\" class=\"wp-image-17105\" srcset=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/upside-2-1024x538.png 1024w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/upside-2-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/upside-2-768x404.png 768w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/upside-2.png 1088w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can browse and claim personalized cash-back offers from popular retailers and restaurants such as Pizza Hut, Burger King, Giant, and Shell.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After you claim an offer, you shop as usual with your credit\/debit card, and the app automatically applies the cash-back rewards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The app\u2019s cash-back deals can be stacked with credit card rewards but not other discounts (like loyalty programs) if those reduce the cash-back percentage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was founded in 2015 in Washington, D.C., by two former Google employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"is-upside-a-scam\">Is Upside a Scam?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No, Upside is not a scam.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sidehustlenation.com\/upside-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">legitimate cash-back app<\/a> that offers savings on everyday purchases like gas, groceries, and dining. Though it won\u2019t replace a primary income, it\u2019s a free way to earn extra money.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/cash-back\/getupside-cash-back\/#restaurant\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bankrate review<\/a>, savings opportunities can be inconsistent, and the app might not be as effective as it sounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The reviewer noted that in his New York suburb, the Upside deals sometimes didn&#8217;t match up with local market prices. For example, an offer advertising an 11\u2011cent discount off a $3.79 per-gallon price turned out to be a station charging $4.69 per gallon, meaning the discount was effectively less valuable or even misleading in that context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/hackernoon.com\/upside-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-popular-app\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HackerNoon article<\/a>, Cash App\u2019s personalization may lead to price discrimination, where loyal customers who already make frequent purchases at certain merchants get lower discounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A number of users have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbb.org\/us\/dc\/washington\/profile\/coupon-service\/upside-0241-236020944\/complaints\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">complained to the Better Business Bureau<\/a> about issues with cash-back rewards. Users reported delays in receiving their cash back, difficulties in communication with customer support, and confusion over charges related to transactions made through the app.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classaction.org\/media\/allec-v-upside-services-inc.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">class action lawsuit<\/a> was filed against Upside, with some users alleging that the company changed the terms of its referral program.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reviews of Upside on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/93x\/comments\/1h814mf\/scam_upside_app_ads\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">internet forums<\/a> are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/CashApp\/comments\/18bkg9z\/how_safe_is_cashapp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mixed<\/a>. Some users reported earning hundreds of dollars over time, especially if they drive a lot or combine the app with credit card rewards. Others feel that the gas stations offering Upside deals tend to have higher prices, meaning you might not save much overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upside gets a 4.6 out of 5.0-star (from 391,351 ratings and 10m+ downloads) on <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.upside.consumer.android&amp;hl=en_IE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google Play<\/a> and a 4.8 out of 5.0-star rating (from 588,257 ratings) on the <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/upside-earn-cash-back-on-gas\/id1099997174\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">App Store<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upside is Better Business Bureau accredited and has an \u201cA+\u201d rating.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Security<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Upside has a variety of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.upside.com\/data-and-security#:~:text=Security%20measures%20at%20Upside,level%20of%20security%20and%20protection.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">security measures<\/a> in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Payment data is processed securely by partners like Stripe, so Upside only sees limited card information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upside encrypts data at rest using AES-256. Data in transit is secured using TLS 1.2 (or higher).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Employee and contractor access to your data is based on a strict need-to-know and least-privilege model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Multi-factor authentication is required, and all account activity is logged, monitored, and reviewed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The app is regularly audited to ensure security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upside carries out employee background checks and conducts assessments of third-party partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is ISO\/IEC27001 certified, which means it adheres to international standards for managing information security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The company also says it documents and regularly tests incident response, disaster recovery, and business continuity plans.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Privacy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Upside\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.upside.com\/data-and-security\/privacy-policy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">privacy policy<\/a> explains the kind of data it collects, why, and with whom it shares it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It says it only collects necessary information.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/upsideprivacy-1024x426.png\" alt=\"Upside privacy - &quot;Upside only collects information that is required for the program to work. We never sell retailer or consumer data.&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-17106\" srcset=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/upsideprivacy-1024x426.png 1024w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/upsideprivacy-300x125.png 300w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/upsideprivacy-768x319.png 768w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/upsideprivacy-1536x638.png 1536w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/upsideprivacy.png 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Upside collects the following personal information:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Email address and password for account creation and security.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social media identifier if logging in via a social media account.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Device identifier for fraud monitoring.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transaction data, including timestamps, merchant names, amounts, and partial credit card numbers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Uploaded receipt images to verify transactions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Geolocation data (if enabled) for matching offers and transactions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact list (if uploaded) for referral bonuses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bank details (last four digits of an account) for direct deposit payouts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PayPal login email for PayPal payouts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other voluntarily provided data for customer support, tax reporting, or promotions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Upside does not sell your personal data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, it may share it with third-party service providers, in business transfers, or when legally required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Upside may use personal data for personalized offers and marketing. Users can opt out of marketing communications at any time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Users have certain privacy rights and choices. For example, they can access, correct, or request deletion of their personal information.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"so-should-you-use-upside\">So, Should You Use Upside?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Probably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you frequently make purchases where Upside operates and are willing to remember to activate offers, it\u2019s worth trying out.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-use-upside-safely\">How to Use Upside Safely<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Ensure device security.<\/strong> Keep your device\u2019s operating system and apps updated.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Control app permissions. <\/strong>Only allow necessary permissions (like location for matching nearby offers).\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limit additional data sharing. <\/strong>Only provide additional personal data (e.g., contacts for referrals or receipt images) if necessary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Verify transactions. <\/strong>Check your transaction history and cash-back rewards for any discrepancies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Monitor your Upside account activity.<\/strong> Regularly monitor your Upside account settings and sign-in activity to catch any unusual behavior early.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Read Upside\u2019s privacy policy.<\/strong> Understand how Upside uses your data and what your rights are regarding data correction or deletion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Stay updated. <\/strong>Keep an eye on any changes to Upside\u2019s privacy policy or terms of service (these updates can affect your privacy.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our guide to whether Upside is a scam.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":17105,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"class_list":["post-17104","is-it-scam","type-is-it-scam","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/is-it-scam\/17104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/is-it-scam"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/is-it-scam"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17105"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}