A Walmart ‘robocall scam’ currently sweeping the nation, warns FCC. Here’s how fake employees will try to trick you into giving up your info

The automated calls, explains a press release (1) from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), claim that a Walmart account has been charged for a purchase the victim didn’t authorize. Victims are then urged to quickly act to “cancel” the order by pressing a number to speak with a live representative.

This is where things get dangerous.

The FCC says the calls have already reached hundreds of thousands of Americans and could target tens of millions more. Here’s what you need to know.

Why this scam is so effective

Scammers are taking advantage of a powerful fear for everyday consumers: unauthorized charges.

"It's too easy to get tricked when you feel pressure to act right away to address a problem that might cost you money," YouMail CEO Alex Quilici told CBS News in an email (2). YouMail makes technology to block robocalls and scam texts and has been working with the FCC to track calls associated with the phishing campaign.

Here’s an example of a script the scammers follow, according to Quilici:

"Hi, this is [NAME] from Walmart, and this is not a telemarketing call. We have detected a pre-authorized purchase of $919.45 for a PlayStation 5 and 3D headset, recently placed through a Walmart account registered to your name and phone number. If you did not authorize this purchase, press 1 to speak with a Walmart representative immediately."

To sound legitimate, the scammers rotate through fake employee names and use artificial intelligence to sound like real automated retail calls.

Once the consumer is hooked in by the fake call, they get transferred to fraudsters posing as customer service agents who then ask for personal information, including credit card Social Security numbers.

Cybersecurity expert Iskander Sanchez-Rola, director of AI and innovation for Norton, told CBS that Walmart is a target because it’s one of the most trusted retailers in the country, with millions of shoppers — and that’s not the only reason.

"Walmart shoppers may also be more vulnerable, since many are budget-conscious and quick to react to unexpected charges, especially when the scam uses realistic AI-generated voices that sound similar to the automated calls they already receive from the retailer," Sanchez-Rola said in an email to the news outlet.

The risk goes way beyond a single fake charge.

Handing over personal information during one of these calls can lead to serious, long-term consequences. The FBI warns that victims could see their bank or credit-card accounts drained, have their identities stolen or find that new accounts have been opened in their name without their consent (3).

It can take years to repair the damage to your credit because of fraud.

That’s why the FCC issued a national warning and is actively investigating the telecom networks that may be transmitting the robocalls, including in the case of the Walmart-impersonator robocalls (4).

"Scammers and thieves using our phone networks to defraud consumers or steal personal data is illegal, and voice service providers must be part of the solution," FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said (1).

How to protect yourself from the scam

It’s important to know that Walmart does not call customers out of the blue to request sensitive information, like Social Security numbers, credit card details, passwords or one-time verification codes.