Walmart scams
Last updated September 18, 2026
The short answer
Walmart scams include fake gift card giveaways, phishing emails about orders you didn't place, and bogus customer survey rewards. Walmart will never call, text, or email asking for gift card numbers, personal information, or payment to claim a prize. Always verify orders at walmart.com.
As the largest retailer in the United States, Walmart is frequently impersonated in scams. Scammers use Walmart's name for fake gift card promotions, phishing emails about nonexistent orders, fake customer surveys promising rewards, and even Walmart-branded tech support scams. Walmart gift cards are also commonly demanded as payment in other scams because they're hard to trace.
How Walmart scams work
- 1
Fake Walmart gift card giveaway
An email, text, or social media post claims you've won a $500 Walmart gift card. To claim it, you need to click a link and provide personal information, pay a "processing fee," or complete a series of surveys that harvest your data.
- 2
Fake order confirmation email
An email says you placed a Walmart order for an expensive item. It includes a link or phone number to "cancel" the order. Clicking the link leads to a phishing site, and calling the number connects you to a scammer who requests payment information.
- 3
Walmart customer survey scam
An email or popup promises a $100 Walmart gift card for completing a "customer satisfaction survey." The survey collects personal information and requires you to sign up for paid subscription services to "qualify" for the reward.
- 4
Gift card payment demand
A scammer impersonating the IRS, a utility company, or law enforcement tells you to buy Walmart gift cards and read them the card numbers to resolve a fake debt or avoid arrest. This isn't a Walmart scam per se, but Walmart gift cards are a common payment method demanded by scammers.
Warning signs
- An email says you won a Walmart gift card you never entered to win
- You receive an order confirmation for a Walmart purchase you didn't make
- A survey promises a large reward for answering a few questions
- Anyone asks you to buy Walmart gift cards as a form of payment for anything other than shopping at Walmart
- The email comes from an address that doesn't end in @walmart.com
- A popup ad claims you're a "selected winner" of a Walmart prize
Examples
"Congratulations! $500 Walmart Gift Card" email
An email says you've been selected to receive a $500 Walmart gift card. You click "Claim Now" and are taken through a series of surveys. At the end, you're told to enter your credit card for a $4.95 "shipping fee." The charge is recurring, and you never receive a gift card.
Fake Walmart order for a $999 TV
An email says your Walmart order for a Samsung TV ($999) has shipped. Worried about fraud, you call the "customer service" number in the email. The scammer asks for your credit card number to "process the cancellation" and charges your card instead.
What to do
- Check your actual Walmart account at walmart.com to verify any orders.
- Don't call phone numbers from suspicious emails. Contact Walmart directly at 1-800-925-6278.
- Never buy gift cards as payment for anything other than actual gift-giving.
- Report suspected Walmart phishing to Walmart at walmart.com/help.
- If you shared financial information, contact your bank and monitor your accounts.
Report it to Walmart
Report at walmart.com/help. Walmart never asks anyone to settle a fee, fine or tax with a gift card.
Getting your money back
If you shared credit card or personal information with a Walmart impersonator, contact your bank immediately. If you purchased gift cards and shared the card numbers with a scammer, contact Walmart's Gift Card Customer Service. They may be able to freeze the remaining balance, though recovery is difficult once funds are redeemed.
Frequently asked questions
Does Walmart give away gift cards via email?
Walmart does not send unsolicited emails offering free gift cards. Any email claiming you won a Walmart gift card that you didn't specifically enter to win is a scam. Legitimate Walmart promotions are listed on walmart.com.
Why do scammers ask for Walmart gift cards?
Gift cards are virtually untraceable once redeemed. Scammers ask for Walmart gift cards because they're widely available, and once you read the card number and PIN, the scammer can immediately use or sell the balance. No legitimate business or government agency accepts gift cards as payment.
How do I report a fake Walmart email?
Forward the email to Walmart at the address listed on their help page. Also report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Don't click any links in the email.
Other companies scammers impersonate
Scams reuse their scripts across brands. If you were contacted about Walmart, these are the guides worth reading next.