Are Apple Pay payments protected from scams?

Use PayPal or Venmo if you want some kind of buyer protection. There is no protection for Person 2 Person (P2P) transfers from any cards or services. You’ll get scammed when they move the funds and then close the account. If they are legitimate, they won’t do P2P and insist on the regular business method that charges the seller a fee. The seller may charge you more, but at least you have some protection.

Any protection is provided by the card issuer if you use a credit card, the bank of you use a debit card. If you use Apple Cash, it’s cash, there is no buyer protection.

Sending Apple Cash to an individual provides no protection. This should only be done only to a person you know as Apple has recommended.

Send and receive money with Apple Cash - Apple Support