Walmart scam: what is the call for a false purchase of a PS5 and what to do
Recent reports record an alleged call from Walmart alerting about a PS5 purchase for $919. Find out how this scam works and what to do
Visualize this scenario: you are calm at home, work or anywhere, a call comes in and they alert you of an alleged purchase of almost $1,000 dollars. And not only that, they invite you to provide personal information, such as full name, Social Security number or a bank account number to avoid this. How would you react? Do you give them? Be careful, because there are reports of a scam in which they talk to you on the phone pretending to be a Walmart worker and seeking to steal your information.
According to information from WLKY, they are calling people alerting them to an alleged purchase of a PlayStation 5 console and 3D headphones for $919.45 dollars made at Walmart. The recording indicates that if the person does not recognize the operation, they must press a number or contact a supposed customer service representative.
The problem is that that contact does not lead to Walmart. In reality, it connects the victim with criminals who pose as company employees to obtain banking information, card numbers, personal data or even remote access to the device.
How the fake Walmart call for a PS5 purchase works
Scammers use a common tactic in this type of fraud: creating fear and urgency. By reporting a high charge and asking for immediate action, they seek to prevent the person from having time to verify if a purchase actually exists.
The campaign has been identified since 2023 and continues to affect consumers in the United States. According to YouMail, a company specializing in technology to block fraudulent calls, criminals have used different fake names to pretend to be Walmart workers.
“It's too easy to fall into the trap when you feel pressure to act immediately to fix a problem that could cost money,” YouMail CEO Alex Quilici told CBS News.
Experts point out that Walmart is one of the brands frequently used by scammers due to the trust it generates among millions of customers. Additionally, an alert about an unexpected charge can cause many people to act quickly to avoid losing money.
“Walmart customers may also be more vulnerable, as many are budget-conscious and react quickly to unexpected charges, especially when the scam uses realistic AI-generated voices that sound similar to the robocalls they already receive from the store,” said Iskander Sanchez-Rola, director of artificial intelligence and innovation at Norton.
What to do if you receive this call from Walmart
If you receive a call about a supposed purchase of a PlayStation 5 at Walmart, first and foremost, stay calm. Do not press any buttons or call the number provided in the message. Also do not share personal information, passwords or banking details with anyone who contacts you.
The recommendation is to directly check your account through the official Walmart application or enter the company's website to check if there are any recent purchases. If you need help, only use official customer service channels.
You can also report these types of calls to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as these reports help detect fraud campaigns and prevent more consumers from falling victim.
Scam calls can seem increasingly real, especially with the use of new technologies. Therefore, in the event of any unexpected notice about purchases or charges, the safest thing to do is to verify the information directly with the company before providing any data.