I just won $1000 from Walmart...Wait, maybe not!

[dzneelvr]

I noticed a text message from Walmart tonight that said go to www.walmart-giftsclub. OK, so I'm excitedI'm thinking of how I will spend it. And when I go to the web address, there's information that it's a SCAM come on! I never win much, can't this be true?I'm going to the service desk tomorrow morning before work and see what's up. Stay tuned.

 

[eyes4eeyore]

Ha, I got this yesterday too. For a split second I thought...cool! Then I thought, wait...congratulations WALMART SHOPPER...I just won $1,000 and they don't know my name????? Plus I never use my cell when I fill out those Walmart things after shopping. I shoulda known better right away. Sorry for the let down, I feel your pain.

 

[kwelch10377]

I am going to guess it is a scam. Most major retailers have a 3rd party vendor that administers their sweepstakes contact you via phone (not text) and/or send you paperwork via UPS/FedEx. They wouldn't be sending you to a website.

 

[disneychrista]

Remember you can only win a contest that you actually entered.

 

[eyes4eeyore]

Remember you can only win a contest that you actually entered.

I have entered a few of the ones you get on your receipt from WalMart...guess that's why I thought it might be legit...a least for a few glorious moments. Would have been a nice chunk toward the next trip.

 

[tinker&belle]

Several of my friends and family all got this over the weekend....there's no way we all won considering I know at least 6 other people who got it. Don't think it is legit.

 

[dzneelvr]

Maybe I can "shame" our local walmart into a $20 gift cardLet me see what going to the service desk in person can do. this really sucks .

 

[kwelch10377]

Maybe I can "shame" our local walmart into a $20 gift cardLet me see what going to the service desk in person can do. this really sucks .

I hope you kidding....if it is a scam they had nothing to do with it, why would they be responsible for compensating you? If you are concerned about it, I would call their corporate offices. I would highly doubt that the service desk person is going to have a clue as to what you are talking about. They would most likely refer you to corporate.

 

[TrulyMadlyDisney]

I got one for $1500 from Lowes, knew right away it was a scam, never been 2 Lowes.

 

[Cruise]

I got the text too. Never even bothered investigating the website cause I figured from the get-go that it was a scam.

But since it's been brought up - isn't it illegal for companies to send you unsolicited texts since some people actually pay per text and, thus they're costing you money? I know whenever I get a telemarketer call on my cell and tell them it's a cell, they apologize and hang up quickly.

 

[Allison]

There is no reason to go by Walmart. It is a scam.

 

[gilby]

Same thing happening with best buy, I'm guessing it's a scam.

 

[ShesAPirate]

It's absolutely a scam! Don't waste your time (or that of the WalMart service desk employees) with this nonsense. Google "walmart-giftsclub" and pretty much every result you'll see is about this being a scam.

 

[ICF]

I've won twice!!

 

[goofyredraider]

I've won three times.
My daughter (10) has won two times on her cell phone, too.
(and yes, she has a cell phone...for emergencies, when she goes to a friend's house to call home if she needs to, and they do bring your own technology to school).

 

[ceemys]

I get the "you want an IPAD" scam. drives me nuts! My cell phone is on that do not call list, but now they can text you.

 

[v.t.]

I won too, not only from Walmart but also Starbucks. And yes, I am the only person who has never set foot in a Starbucks.
But I would like to know if there is someone we can report these to. I finally got my junk mail to a minimum, so now they are attack my phone.

 

[SC Minnie]

I get these kinds of texts too as well as other spam texts. Be careful and do not respond not even when it says reply with STOP to end. I did that last month and ended up with a 'premium text charge' on my cell phone bill for $10. I called Verizon because I never signed up for any kind of premium texting. It was the spam I had replied STOP to. I would have been charged that $10 for now until eternity had I not caught it after the first bill. Beware and check your bills!

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Maybe I can "shame" our local walmart into a $20 gift cardLet me see what going to the service desk in person can do. this really sucks .

Walmart is just as much a victim of this scam as you are. WM did nothing wrong - why would it even cross your mind that you could "shame" them?

I got this same text a few weeks ago. With a quick search on Walmart's site:

Walmart Gift Card Text Message Scams
March 9, 2012 -- There has been a sudden increase in scam text messages referring people to a site where they can “claim a Walmart Gift Card” by entering certain private personal information. These attacks that take place through SMS text message technologies to personal mobile phones are scams and are in no way sponsored by or affiliated with Walmart. This type of scam has come to be known as “Smishing” because of the use of SMS text technology. Similar to the way scam web sites send “Phishing” emails, scam artists have been sending text messages offering free Walmart gift cards to consumers in exchange for entering information on a mobile website. The most popular website being used recently is called “walmartgift.mobi”. This site is not owned, operated by, or affiliated with Walmart. Any site can be used for this scam and users are often asked for private personal information including credit card numbers or social security numbers. Providing this type of information is very likely to lead to identity theft or credit card fraud.

These text messages and the sites being used are not from Walmart and Walmart is not associated with parties promoting this activity. Walmart will never initiate a text message where we ask for sensitive personal data like credit card information or social security numbers. Click here to learn how to report text message SPAM.


And how to report a spam text (I just learned this now!):

The major mobile carriers in North America are actively trying to stop text spammers and fraudsters. If you receive a SPAM or fraudulent text message on your mobile phone, forward that text to the shortcode 7726 (which spells "SPAM"). (A shortcode is a telephone number which is much shorter than a full telephone number.) In the United States, any texting campaign that uses a shortcode has to obey strict rules. One of those rules is that if you reply "stop" to any message that came from a shortcode, it has to stop sending you messages.

If the message was sent from a shortcode (example 123-4), it is likely legitimate and you can reply “STOP” or “OPT-OUT” to stop receiving further messages. However, if the message comes from a regular phone number or you are still suspicious, forward the message to “7726”.

You'll then receive an automated message from your wireless carrier, asking you to enter the phone number from which the spam text was sent. This will allow mobile carriers to take appropriate action, which might include investigations, warnings and blocking of senders who have been reported by end users as sending unsolicited or fraudulent messages.

 

[goofyredraider]

I get the "you want an IPAD" scam. drives me nuts! My cell phone is on that do not call list, but now they can text you.

I won two of those as well!
Apparently, there is legislation now proposed to ban it. However, we are on the do not call list and still get calls.
What bothers me the most about the text thing is that a lot of people don't have unlimited texting...and it costs them to receive those scam messages (or deducts from their # monthly).