Walmart order verification scam: spot the fake order email or text
Quick answer
An email or text saying a Walmart order needs "verification" or was placed in your name is a likely scam. Don't click or call. Check your orders in your Walmart account, forward phishing emails to Walmart as an attachment, and report to the FTC.
- Comes by
- Email, Text, Phone call
- Pretends to be
- Walmart
- Last updated
How it works
Scammers send a message that looks like a Walmart order confirmation or a payment problem. It says an order was placed on your account, or that you must verify it, and gives a link or a phone number to dispute it.
The link leads to a fake Walmart login that steals your password and card details. The number connects you to someone who asks for account information, or for remote access to your computer.
Walmart's own guidance says a phishing email can look real, including the logo, domain and wording, and that urgency or an unexpected request is a warning sign. Hover over links to see where they go.
Red flags
- An order you didn't place, with a link or number to "cancel" it
- Urgent wording about verifying or losing your account
- A link that doesn't go to walmart.com when you hover over it
- A phone number in the message instead of your account's help page
- A request for payment details or remote access to your computer
- Generic greeting and mismatched sender address
Example message
Walmart order #[number] for $[amount] is pending verification. If you didn't make this purchase, cancel it now at [link] or call [phone number]. Your account will be restricted within 24 hours.
What to do
- 1
Don't click or call
Open the Walmart site or app yourself and check your order history.
- 2
Look for the order in your account
If there's no such order, the message was fake. If there is an unknown order, use Walmart's chat support and type "Unauthorized Charges".
- 3
If you gave details, reset your password
Change your Walmart password and any other account that used it, then contact your bank or card issuer about charges you don't recognize.
- 4
Forward phishing emails as an attachment
Walmart asks you to forward the email as an attachment to the abuse address on its fraud alerts page, then delete it.
- 5
Report it
Report to the FTC, and to local police if you lost money.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
Order scams go out to millions of emails and phone numbers. When the message uses your name or city, it usually came from a data broker listing or a breach. Serus finds where your address, phone number and email are listed on data brokers and people-search sites and removes them, and alerts you when your details show up in a breach, so fewer scammers can reach you.
More Walmart scams
Frequently asked
Is a Walmart order verification email real?
Check your order history in your own Walmart account. If the order isn't there, treat the message as fake.
What if the email has the Walmart logo?
Walmart says phishing emails can copy its logo, domain and wording. Look at where links really go by hovering over them.
How do I report a fake Walmart email?
Forward it as an attachment to the abuse address on Walmart's fraud alerts page, then report it to the FTC.
I got charged for an order I didn't make.
Contact Walmart through its chat support and your bank or card issuer. Your financial institution is the best place to recover funds.
Sources
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