The Walmart text scam
A text says it's from Walmart: a prize, a recall, a gift card. Here's what Walmart says and what to do.
Scam guide · Updated October 23, 2026
What the text looks like
A text says it's from Walmart. It might say you won a gift card, that a product you bought has been recalled, or that there is a problem with an order. It has a link or a phone number. Walmart has a fraud alerts page that names several of these patterns, so this guide sticks to what Walmart itself says.
Walmart: You have been selected to receive a $500 gift card. Claim it now: [link]A typical example, recreated from the patterns Walmart describes on its fraud alerts page. Don't tap links in messages like this.
What Walmart says about texts
- Prize texts: Walmart describes smishing, fraud by SMS, where a scammer texts that you've won a free gift card. Its reply: you can't win a contest you didn't enter, and Walmart doesn't notify winners of any contest via text message. (Walmart)
- Recall texts: Walmart says to be aware of scams that falsely claim to be product recall notifications. It says Walmart does not send text messages about product recalls, and communicates recalls through official websites and direct email notifications. (Walmart)
- Crypto: Walmart says it does not accept or send crypto in stores. (Walmart)
Signs it's a scam
- It says you won something you didn't enter. (Walmart)
- It asks you to pay with gift cards. Walmart says to treat gift cards the same as cash, and never to give someone you don't know a picture of the card or the numbers on the back. It also says other businesses don't accept Walmart gift cards for things like utility bills or bail money. (Walmart)
- It asks you to verify personal information. Walmart says if someone contacts you to verify your personal information, it is very likely you didn't provide it to them in the first place, and it is not a legitimate request. (Walmart)
- The caller ID or sender looks real. Walmart says don't trust caller ID, because fraudsters can make it display a legitimate business's name. (Walmart)
What to do
- Don't tap the link, reply or call the number in the text. Walmart says not to respond to suspicious emails, ads, websites, automated calls or text messages. (Walmart)
- Check with Walmart yourself. If in doubt, call a trusted number for the company, such as one on a statement, the back of your card, or the official website, and not a number from the message. (Walmart)
- Report a fake Walmart email. Walmart asks you to send the email as an attachment to OnlineAbuse@walmart.com, and not to paste or forward it. (Walmart)
- Report fraud. Walmart says to file a report with local law enforcement and with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. For a gift card scam involving Walmart Gift Cards, it gives the number (888) 537-5503. (Walmart) You can also forward a scam text to 7726 (SPAM); see how to report a scam text.
If you already paid or shared details
If you paid with a gift card, contact the gift card company straight away using the number on the card or the report line Walmart lists. If you gave card details, call your bank or card issuer on the number on the back of your card and ask them to block it. If you gave a password, change it. Walmart also has a help article on account security and unrecognized charges or orders, which says to contact your bank and reset your password.
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Common questions
Does Walmart text people about product recalls?
Walmart says it does not send text messages about product recalls. It says it communicates recalls through official websites and direct email notifications.
Does Walmart tell contest winners by text?
No. Walmart says you can't win a contest you didn't enter, and that it doesn't notify winners of any contest via text message.
Where do I report a fake Walmart message?
Walmart says to report fraud to local law enforcement and the FTC, and to send a fraudulent email claiming to be from Walmart to OnlineAbuse@walmart.com as an attachment.
Sources
Related: is that Amazon text real?, the fake recall text scam, how to check if a link is safe and how to report a scam text.
Shieldr isn't affiliated with Walmart. Walmart is a trademark of Walmart Apollo, LLC. Details are taken from Walmart's own page as of October 23, 2026 and may change.
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