Top Walmart Scams: Online Walmart Shoppers Beware

Most people don't think twice about shopping online with Walmart and Walmart Marketplace. Even though the big-box store has its own security protocols, scammers can still trick you out of your money with phishing attempts and other fraudulent tactics. Plus, you can never be too careful when using third-party marketplaces. 

We dive into the top Walmart scams and explain what you need to look for to keep your money and identity safe. We also offer expert tips on avoiding scams and what to do if you've fallen victim to a Walmart scam, like using the best ID theft services to secure your accounts. 

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6 common Walmart scams

What do COVID-19, gift cards, and money transfers have in common? You guessed it: They’re all angles in Walmart scams. Cybercriminals will use emotions, technology, and opportunity to line their pockets with your money. Keep reading below on how criminals attempt various Walmart scams.

1. Walmart impersonation scams

Walmart has immediate name recognition because it operates over 10,000 stores and clubs worldwide. Cybercriminals rely on big-box retailer name recognition to scam you out of your personally identifiable information (PII), like your name, Social Security number, etc. To do so, scammers will impersonate Walmart admin, government officials, and even sweepstakes personalities. 

A typical tactic is for scammers to email or text, stating that you've won something. You are asked to click on a link for more information. Instead of directing you to a cash boon, the link takes you to a phishing website or malware. Whether it is a phone call, email, or text message, you should always ask yourself why a global brand would contact you unsolicited. This is a red flag. 

2. Walmart gift card scams

Have you checked your Walmart gift card balance and were suddenly redirected to a different website? Have you seen offerings for free Walmart gift cards on other websites or on social media? These are just a few ways gift cards are used to scam people like you.

Here is a list of how gift cards may be used fraudulently by cybercriminals:

• A scammer may ask you to use your Walmart gift card for their “product” or “service,” knowing they will simply take your gift card information and use it themselves.
• You could encounter a spoofed website, which is a false website set up to steal your payment details when you try to check your Walmart gift card balance.
• A website could offer free Walmart gift cards if you respond to or click on an online ad. Some websites are set up solely to phish your personal data or install malware on your computer.

To avoid the Walmart gift card scam, only use your gift card at Walmart stores or Walmart.com. Avoid checking your Walmart gift card balance anywhere but the official Walmart website. Furthermore, stay away from websites that offer free Walmart gift cards in exchange for you performing some task for a “company,”

3. Walmart survey scams

Did you know you can take a Walmart survey up to one week after your shopping visit and enter it into their quarterly gift card sweepstakes? Scammers are also aware of these ongoing sweepstakes. They would like nothing more than to obtain your personal details, such as passwords, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, and Social Security numbers, to commit identity theft.

While Walmart may ask you to verify your address or phone number if you win the sweepstakes, personnel will never call or email you asking for your SSN or financial details.

Moreover, always double-check the website you are visiting before submitting your Walmart survey and any sensitive information, as survey.walmart.com is the official site to enter your feedback. If you are concerned about whether or not an email survey is from Walmart, do not click on it or respond to it. You can contact their team at inapprop@walmart.com to further investigate the communication and verify that it is an authorized Walmart email.

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4. Walmart online order scams

With the Walmart order tracking scam, you may receive an order confirmation from a fake company that wants you to click on their phishing links and download malware. It’s likely an email scam if:

• Filled with poor grammar or spelling errors
• Missing a Walmart order tracking number or shipping notes
• Sent from a domain that isn’t Walmart’s

If you receive a phony-looking Walmart email, do not reply to it or click on any links. You can log in to your account on Walmart's official site to check your recent order status or contact Walmart support.

5. Walmart money transfer scams

Walmart offers many safe and valid money transfer services under the Walmart2Walmart brand. But money transfers and money orders are difficult to reverse. They work like cash, and Walmart can’t help you retrieve money sent to fraudsters.

Scammers may ask you to send money transfers under the guise of buying fake products, donating to fake charities, or helping a family member in dire need. While the Walmart2Walmart money transfers are legitimate services, you’ll want to proceed cautiously while performing a money transfer. 

Here are a few helpful tips:

• Never transfer money to strangers. Money transfers are the equivalent of giving them cash.
• Do not send money to merchants, charities, government organizations, or to buy high-value items. Money transfers are safer if you use them solely to transfer money to others.
• Double-check with your loved one that they are the individual who contacted you and needs your money transfer.
• Keep your transaction reference number private from anyone not the intended recipient of the funds.

6. Walmart relief scams

Cybercriminals may ask you to complete a form or send them a deposit to receive grant assistance or COVID-19 relief payments. The scammers claim this monetary award will come from the Walmart Foundation or Walmart.org. Both are legitimate organizations that are falsely named in this type of scam. Before accepting assistance or providing personal information, make sure to look up each organization online, call, or visit in person. 

What to do if you’ve been scammed

If you have been scammed, do not panic. There are actions you can take right away. 

1. First, address any immediate privacy breach by changing your online password and contacting your credit card issuer to report fraudulent activity. 
2. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides a list of steps you can take to prevent scammers from causing further damage.
3. Next, you may need to report the scam to your local law enforcement before alerting the proper governmental authorities, such as the FTC or IC3. 
4. You can also contact Walmart and its partners directly if you would like to learn helpful next steps for recovering your funds or protecting your Walmart account.

How to contact Walmart after a scam

Here are the multiple ways to reach out to Walmart if you have been a victim or potential victim of a Walmart scam:

• If you have been the victim of a Walmart gift card scam, you can report it to 888-537-5503.
• If you suspect that you have received a suspicious email falsely stating they are with Walmart, you can send the email as an attachment to OnlineAbuse@Walmart.com for further investigation.
• If you believe you were redirected to a fraudulent website, send an email with the website link to abuse@Walmart.com for further inquiry.
• If you received a fraudulent email or have been a victim of money transfer fraud, you can report it to MoneyGram directly online or call 1-800-MONEYGRAM.
• If you believe your account for Walmart’s official site was compromised, you can change your password online.

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Is Walmart safe?

Yes. We believe Walmart is one of the safest online retailers, and it is responsible for keeping your account secure when shopping online at Walmart.com or Walmart Marketplace, its third-party retailer site.

To do this, Walmart has dedicated phone numbers and email addresses where you can report potential and actual fraudulent activity. Furthermore, Walmart's official site has a webpage dedicated to fraud alerts to inform you of any new scams that have been or could be attempted with Walmart customers.

Tips to avoid Walmart scams

To avoid being scammed on Walmart’s official site or Walmart’s Marketplace, here are some general precautions.

• Always double-check the website you are visiting for accuracy. If you notice typos or grammatical errors on the address bar or web page, you could be on a fraudulent website impersonating Walmart’s official site.
• Double-verify email sender addresses before clicking on links in a Walmart email.
• If an order confirmation looks untimely, contact Walmart directly to confirm your order details.
• Only check your Walmart gift card balance and use your Walmart gift card at the Walmart official site.
• Avoid clicking on sites offering free gift cards.
• Properly research a charity online or in person before donating.
• Stay away from using money transfers for big-ticket items or products versus simply transferring money to the intended recipient.
• Pay attention to your browser’s security warnings for malicious sites or malicious web files.
• Type in the URL of the trusted website into your browser versus clicking on links.
• Avoid clicking pop-up ads.
• Never give out your personal information to someone who calls, texts, or emails you before you have verified this person’s identity through the organization.

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Bottom line

Walmart cares about your safety. Since 2018, Walmart's proprietary anti-gift card scam tech, Redemption, has assisted in stopping millions of dollars worth of potential fraud. Additionally, the company has dedicated phone numbers and Walmart.com email addresses for customers concerned about Walmart scams, along with a fraud website that has a robust list of fraud prevention resources. But the best scam prevention starts with you.

It's important to protect yourself from cyberscams so you don't fall victim to identity theft. We've tested and compiled a list of the best identity theft protection products so you can protect your PII, money, and identity, 

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AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Editorial Rating

Learn More

On Aura Identity Theft's website

Identity Protection

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Best Sale of the Year: Up to 78% Off

• #1 rated ID theft protection service with a full suite of monitoring tools
• Includes up to $1 million in ID theft insurance for up to five adults
• Protect your children with robust parental controls and gaming alerts

Author Details

Robin Moore

About the Author

Robin Moore is a freelance writer and editor specializing in blockchain technology, including wallet security and data privacy. She is the current Managing Editor for Watcher.Guru, a startup blockchain and finance news publication with 1.7 million followers on Twitter. Robin has also been the lead content editor with Genfinity.IO, another startup blockchain research publication. Before entering the Web3 space, she was a business analyst within the oil and gas industry. When she is not offering advice on the best ways to protect data privacy, she is hiking, doing yoga, or networking with her Web3 family on crypto-Twitter.

Kate Quinlan