How To Report Fraud to Walmart

In the digital age, fraudulent activities have become increasingly widespread. With large corporations like Walmart, the risk of encountering a scam or fraudulent activity is quite significant. This article aims to provide comprehensive guidance on how to report fraud to Walmart, the most common types of fraud associated with Walmart, and how you can protect yourself from becoming a victim.

Identifying Fraud

Before you can report a fraud, you need to identify it. The most common types of fraud associated with Walmart include:

1. Gift Card Fraud: Scammers trick people into sending them money or gift card information, often by impersonating government entities or other companies.
2. Mystery Shopping Scam: Fraudsters send random text messages or emails asking people to be secret shoppers for Walmart. They send a fake check and ask the victim to buy gift cards from Walmart and send the numbers to the scammers.
3. Phishing Scams: Scammers send emails impersonating Walmart, claiming there is an issue with package delivery or a problem with the customer’s online account. The goal is to collect sensitive information from the victim.
4. Walmart Survey Scams: Scammers imitate Walmart’s legitimate in-store experience survey and sweepstakes to collect personal information, such as passwords, bank account numbers, and Social Security numbers.
5. Order Tracking Scam: Victims receive an order confirmation from a fake company, urging them to click on phishing links and download malware. These emails often have poor grammar, spelling errors, and are sent from a domain that isn’t Walmart’s.
6. Money Transfer Scams: Scammers ask victims to send money transfers under the guise of buying fake products, donating to fake charities, or helping a family member in need. Walmart offers money transfer services under the Walmart2Walmart brand, which scammers exploit.

Reporting Fraud to Walmart

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud involving Walmart, the company has specific channels for reporting these incidents:

Gift Card Fraud: If you think you’ve been the victim of a gift card scam involving Walmart Gift Cards, report it to (888) 537-5503.

Suspicious Emails: If you suspect you have received a fraudulent email claiming to be from Walmart, send the email as an attachment to [email protected].

Fraudulent Websites: If you believe you were redirected to a fraudulent website claiming to be connected with Walmart, send an email with the website link to [email protected].

Walmart MoneyCard Fraud: If you believe you have been a victim of fraud with your Walmart MoneyCard, submit a fraud report in the Help Center on the Walmart MoneyCard website.

Other Types of Fraud: If you were a victim of fraud, file a report with your local law enforcement agency and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

For general customer support, you can contact Walmart’s Customer Service team at 1-800-925-6278 (1-800-WALMART) .

Protecting Yourself from Fraud

To protect yourself from falling victim to these scams, always double-check the website you are visiting, verify email sender addresses, and be cautious of unsolicited emails that appear to be coming from Walmart.

Here are some additional tips:

• Use secure payment methods: When paying with a credit card at checkout, use the chip reader instead of swiping your card. Alternatively, use Apple Pay, Google Pay, or the tap feature, which encrypts your card data.
• Keep your antivirus software updated: Regularly update your virus protection software on all your devices to protect against malware and phishing attempts.
• Be cautious with gift cards: No legitimate businesses or government entities will accept Walmart Gift Cards as payment. Do not purchase, sell, or check your balance on online marketplaces outside of Walmart.com.
• Be wary of unsolicited job offers: If you receive a job offer from Walmart, verify its legitimacy with the job site where you posted your resume.

Conclusion

By staying vigilant and following these tips, you can protect yourself from various scams targeting Walmart customers. If you suspect you have been a victim of a Walmart scam, report it to the appropriate authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Remember, your safety and security are paramount, and every step should be taken to ensure you are protected.