WALMART has issued a warning about a scheme to deceive its loyal customers.
Scammers are exploiting paying customers more than ever, as multinational retailer corporation says out to protect customers’ identities and pockets.
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Phishing schemes use Walmart shoppers to coerce them into giving their personal details to fraudulent advertisements that claim rewards and recruit them to be secret shoppers.
According to the 2022 ThreatLabz Phishing report, there was a 29% increase in phishing attacks last year and a 400% increase for wholesalers and retailers.
Walmart warns customers: “Never deposit a check you receive in the mail from a ‘mystery shopping company. No legitimate business will pay in advance and ask you to send back a portion of the money.”
“Remember, if it sounds too good to believe, it is!”
Walmart mystery shopper scams share one common thread – Linda De Simone (Baton Rouge), Louisiana, and Bianca Baluyut (Elk Grove), California) both shared similar stories of how they were scammed.
Baluyut and De Simone received letters from Walmart supposedly recruiting them to secret shoppers.
De Simone told BRProud.com that: “She also received two checks—one on Oct. 1 and the other on Oct. 8—with instructions telling her what to do with the checks as a secret shopper.”
“Baluyut had also received a check and a letter with secret shopper instructions for her next trip to Walmart,”Report by ABC10
De Simone, “her letter instructed her to deposit the mailed checks worth a total of over $4,000 into her bank account and then buy eight $500 Walmart Visa gift cards.”
De Simone & Baluyut were able to avoid being held responsible for any criminal activity they might have been part of.
According to Best LifeCustomers should know that any mail or email sent to [email protected] is not legitimate.
Walmart’s website now provides information on how to spot fraud and avoid scams, so customers can be protected while helping spread awareness.
These revelations come as law enforcement officials reveal two key ways that scammers have access to customers’ credit card information at self checkout.
Police in Elkhart, Indiana recently warned residents of a new self-scan scam that leaves shoppers vulnerable to credit card theft at local stores.
The self-checkout is the first place to check out.
When a person enters self-checkout, a scammer will drop a $10 note on the ground.
The victim will be distracted by the $10 they point out.
The scammer will be able to see the victim enter their PIN into the machine’s keypad while this is taking place.
According to police, a second swindler will be waiting outside in the lot.
The second scammer sees the victim leaving the store and goes up to them, claiming that they have $10.
This adds to the distraction when the scammer steals the victim’s card from their purse or wallet.
To make high-end purchases, the scammers will use the card and the PIN they have collected.
Police advised shoppers to take preventive steps when they shop.
When using a credit or debit card, they warn customers to be aware of their surroundings.
When entering your PIN number, it’s important that you cover your keyboard with your hands.
Be sure to take out your card from the keypad before you leave the self checkout machine.
Police advise you not to pick up any money that is pointed out to you on the ground by anyone.
If you feel that someone is bothering or threatening to harm your vehicle, please alert the store staff immediately or call the police.