Fake Walmart Lists Trick Shoppers Into Scams

A new report by MalwareBytes reveals a scam targeting Walmart customers through fake virtual shopping lists. These lists, designed to look like legitimate customer service pages, trick shoppers into calling fraudulent numbers operated by scammers.

Once on the line, scammers impersonate Walmart representatives, requesting personal information, which could be used for malicious purposes.

The scammers have taken advantage of a feature on Walmart’s website called “Walmart Lists,” which allows registered users to create and share virtual shopping lists.

By embedding rogue customer service numbers into these lists and promoting them through Google ads, scammers deceive victims into believing they are contacting Walmart.

The malicious ads often appear as sponsored results on Google searches for Walmart’s contact number. Although the URLs displayed seem legitimate, linking directly to Walmart’s website, the content is not.

Once a victim calls the number, the scam escalates quickly. The scammers, posing as Walmart customer service agents, inform the caller of a supposed fraudulent charge on their account.

The victims are pressured to provide more sensitive details, including banking information and social security numbers.

In some cases, victims are falsely accused of money laundering and threatened with arrest unless they transfer money into a Bitcoin wallet.

The call center uses multiple scammers, each posing as different authorities such as supervisors, bank employees, and even Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigators.The scam preys on consumers’ trust in official websites and fear of criminal accusations.

Experts advise that customers avoid clicking on sponsored ads, and always verify customer service contact details directly from official sources. Additionally, any pressure to act quickly or threats of legal consequences should raise immediate red flags, as legitimate companies do not use such tactics.

This report highlights the evolving tactics scammers use to exploit online users, and underscores the importance of staying vigilant while shopping or contacting customer service online.