Smishing… What is that?
“Smishing” is the latest scam. Instead of getting an e-mail, you get a text message. The word is a combination of “SMS,” for short message service, also known as text messaging, and “phishing.” In the text message you’re instructed to call a toll-free number, which is answered by a bogus interactive voice-response system that tries to fool you into providing your account number and password. Whatever you do, do not do this!
A few days ago Walmart released this statement onto their website for their customers saying, “In the last few days 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.”
They also said, “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. 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.”
Lastly, these text messages and the sites being used are not from Walmart, and Walmart is not associated with parties promoting this activity. Walmart has said they will never initiate a text message where we ask for sensitive personal data like credit card information or social security numbers.
Scambook users are among the many that have been receiving these smishing texts. We have received over 1000 consumer complaints about this scam, click here to read what Scambook users have been saying.
A great way to prevent this is to not respond when you receive a text about an account, first verify the number to see if it is legitimate. You can input the number into Google to verify if it belongs to your financial institution. The best solution would be to call your customer service number which you can locate on the back of your ATM card or on their website.
UPDATE: We now have updated information on the Walmart gift card scam, click here to view the updated post.”
See Also
FTC To Free Gift Card Text Message Spammers: “Game Over”
Weird News: Walmart Scammers Vomit On Video Game Receipts to Get Refunds
Identity Theft Watch: Customer Passwords Stolen from Walmart Vudu Video Service
This is what I got today just so everyone can see different variation of these scam
Winner #22334 You’ve won the $1000 Walmart gift card or a New iPad4! Claim you gift at bit.ly/XHyliT
How’s things? Does anyone know any free software that can remove access to certain sites? Thank you
We received a text at 4:06a.m. this morning on our Verizon cell phone. . . “You just won a $1000 Walmart Gift Card!” From phone number 703-401-7870. Having submitted surveys to Walmart for a chance to win a $1000 gift card, we thought we had won the survey! When I went online, I entered my name, address, birth date and home phone. Something didn’t add up on the next page and I began reading fine print and realized this was trouble, not what I thought it was! I didn’t continue or finish the submission. I didn’t have a exit/cancel option so I just closed the internet. Whew! That was too close for comfort! I had not entered any CC or SS numbers. Or will I still be in trouble??
I have received a few texts like that on my phone, but not too often. I get the same kind of message in my “spam” folder on my email addresses all the time. I don’t even open it up, I just delete everything in that folder anyway. Sometimes, some of them end up in the actual “inbox” on my email address, which are also deleted without looking at it.
I received this same text message on my phone on March 19, 2012 at 11:13 pm from number 703-220-2469.
Also, my instructions said to enter “GIFT” at http://promocenter.ws/walmart
Every time I pull up a job website I get that message about a free walmart gift card the a email saying to end adress and phone number so it can be sent to me. Witch of course it never is sent. Thi has been going on for about a year and a half.
585-278-3610 text message (25 Users have won a $1000 Walmart giftcard to be shipped express, enter YOUR verification code 9742 at http://real1up.com to claim yours.
I received one today frojm 571-239-1735, “You just wond a free $1000 Walfmart Gift Card, enter “1000” at http://promocenter.ws/walmart“. Sure would be nice if it were true. 🙂
they have been trying to call me all day..from a 203/area code i finally answered and was like of i took a survey dont you have my email? after seberal tries from them…and me asking why they didnt have such info…they hunh up on me pays to a sceptial biotch…lol..never give any info over the phone…
Thanks for the tip. I just erase one from my phone. Keep up the good work.
You Have just won a Walmart Gift Card,enter”GIFT”at http://promocenter.ws/walmart. Question? Should I just delete the message or what are my options. I guess it is just a scam? Billy Dillon.
Should I just delete the message that I won a$1000 Gift Card from Walmart Sounds like a scam to me?
I received a text message saying “You have just won a $1000 Walmart Gift Card! To claim go to http:/prize-patrol.ws/walmart and enter GIVE” ….That’s from number 15712327327. Good thing I checked online this morning to see if it’s a scam! Yes, it’s too good to be true… Now that they have my cell number, am I going to be receiving scam text messages from this point on??? I hate to change my cellphone number again… Good day to all!
recieved a text; said I won $1,000 dollar gift card, went to google and looked up number:571-215-5047, and found it was a scam. went to wal-mart with info and they said call police. you would think if I can find the address in arlington,va, they could too. then they could prosecute and end the scam once and for all.
is there any way to block these texts? i dont know how they got my number but i dont have a texting plan anymore.
really people. you acutally did what it asked and give out personal info? if anyone is so stupid that they fell for this, they need everything stolen from this. COMMON SENSE PEOPLE! its Wal-Mart, not walmart, if the company is going to send you something at all, i think they would atleast spell their name correctly. lol
Both Wal-mart and Walmart are correct.
http://walmartstores.com/AboutUs/
i got text message saying i won a $1,000
walmart gift card go to website to claim prize http://promocenter.ws/walmart its not true .
I just got this text message as well. I knew something seemed off about it. It was way too impersonal and things like these never come with a text. This is what the message said:
“Dear Walmart shopper. Congratulations you have just won a $1000 Walmart Gift Card. Click here to claim your gift. http://www.MyWmartCard.com cancel: reply STOP”
This message came from 714-988-5177. hehe Jokes on them for thinking everyone has a smart phone. I can’t click on their fake website through my phone.
i received a text message from (559) 618-0226: you’ve been chosen to win a $1,000 Walmart Gift Card! But only the 1st 1,000 users that enter code 7777 at http://walmartgift.mobi will Receive It!
I received a text message from (702)686-7124. 30 users have won a $1,000 walmart giftcard. Enter your Personal claim code 4346 at htpp://real1up.com to be verified,an have it shiped.Received at 8:22pm.March25,2012.Sounded to good to me to be true.
Please send me my card!
i recived a text message that said 50 USERS HAVE BEEN AWARDED A $1,000 WALMART GIFTCARD, USE YOUR UNIQUE CLAIM CODE AT http://REAL1UP.COM IN ORDER TO BEVERIFIED AND HAVE IT SENT. it was sent march, 29 2012 6:23 am
Today I received the text message that I won a $1000 walmart gift card. I also walked into a walmart today, though not buying anything. In the last 13 years I walked into a walmart less than five times, not buying anything. What a coincidence!
Are you sure???? Got a text message like that, too! It said I’ve been a loyal customer of Walmart and that I will receive a $500 worth of gift certificate after I call this phone number 571-527-9735. I did and the representative whose name was Kenneth Flynn with ID# 47565 got my personal information for record purposes. He did get my credit card details and said they’d charge me a dollar to confirm I am who I say I am but will refund me the money in 3 days time. Now, I’m waiting for the gift cert to arrive.
Was that all a scam??? Oh my God…
Good heavens! I looked up the phone number through Google and I found this page http://www.callercenter.com/571-527-9735.html. Looks like the phone number’s been associated to this Walmart Gift Certificate scam.
Just got one from 415 419 6379
Says “You have just won a $1000 Walmart giftcard! Must be redeemed using CODE: *blahblahblah* within 24 hours at http://walmartgifts.net”
Went to the site, put in the code and up comes get-goodies.com, with Walmart plastered all over it and this lovely fine print:
“Get-Goodies.com is an independent rewards program and not associated with any of the above listed merchants or brands. Get-Goodies.com is solely responsible for all reward fulfillment. In order to receive your reward you must: (1) Meet the eligibility requirements (2) complete the survey (3) complete a total of 13 Reward Offers as stated in the Terms & Conditions (4) not cancel your participation in more than a total of 2 Reward Offers within 30 days of any Reward Offer Sign-Up Date as outlined in the Terms & Conditions (the Cancellation Limit) and (5) follow the redemption instructions.”
Nice try, fuckers.
I received the same scam text. I didnt even reply because that just acknowledges that you are a good phone number to keep pestering.
These people are idiots and pay lots of money to other idiots to do the computer work for them because they are too stupid to do it themselves. In the end, they lose more money if nobody falls for the scam. Its too bad some folks make it easy for them….Sh*t rolls downhill!
You have just won a $1000 Walmart Gift Card! To claim please enter WINN at http://prizesforyou.biz/wm
714-933-5059 is also associated with the scam. received 4/1/12 at 4:30 pm
Received the txt message from # 407-491-8366. Please be careful about these kind of messages. I have provided my contact details and physical address while completing the survey for 13 questions and the process to claim the gift . But at some stage it was asking me to download a EXE file and that’s when i realize that this could be a scam and i cancelled the download. Luckily i haven’t got the page asking my SSN or some other Banking related information. So, please please be careful and since i have provided my Contact numbers and Physical Address of mine, would there be any problems? IF so please advise for the alternate precautions. I would really appreciate.
I have been getting texts from 2 numbers all day one is HSBC Bank and they ask to callback 438-338-1946 it is automated message saying that your master card has been frozen and then asks for your card number. I can’t get them to stop texting me and I have no credit cards in my name. Also one for a lower your mortgage, I also have no mortgage the number is 949-873-3554. Any suggestions
I got the same text, but I knew it was crap since I don’t shop at walmart!
i just got a text at 4:30 am……….from an eastern coast phone number
215-834-6089 for walmart gift card
http://prizehubdirect.com is the site.but there is no way to contact anyone or find out the source to ccomplain to…sigh
4:30 am..are you kidding me?
I got the same text, go to WmartPass.com for my free 1000 gift card. Number is 619-559-9080. BIG SCAM
I received the same text from 209-912-9010 to go to http://www.wmart-awards.com. I looked up the info first and EVERYTHING I’ve read on this says huge scam!!!
Mine came from the number 19515877358. Yeah I won $1000 walmart gift card… Not. http://www.WmartSale.com (stop2end)
I receive the same text at 11h08 . what is that shit ?? If someone receive this DONT ANSWER! It’s a scam to have your personal infos.
not kool..at all
I got a text message from 1-949-672-8348 saying that I won a 1000 dollar gift card from Walmart and that I need to claim my prize at http://www.DealWmart.com and I have NO idea if its real or not. What do you think? :/
You should click on the link, and when you ask to put personal info, put the name of your Attorney general, lol, may then the gov will pay more attention to scammers then they do now. It cost people millions of $$$ and there are really no proactive law enforcement, but try not to pay few hundred in taxes….
IT IS A SCAM – DELETE IT!!!! It’s been all over the Internet for months. You’ll never see $ 1 out of the 1000 promised !!
My text was from 224-243-0192 to go to http://shopper.cardclaim.com . Does anyone know how these are being sent out? My phone plan is verizon and certain apps do this “push add” where i get a green star and its some sorta spam. This is my first text though. Is this only a verizon thing?
I got one a few minutes ago from phone # 479-268-0796. Very much a scam! Do not respond in any way!
got a text from (407) 491-0023 its a mobile phone in orlando. told me i won a walmart gift card and to got to this site: http://www.walmart.com.myfreecard.biz/claim. no such site.
okay i did get routed to a site the second time i tried. the site admits it has nothing to do with walmart. looks scammy
Whoever Falls for this scam is retarded….. Hahahahaha Well I did fall for a couple suvery scams in my day; so i guess their not that retarded lol. I usually get free stuff from costlessfree.com, but they only work like 10% of the time. So some times its not bad to fall for scams hahahaha
I got this text about walmart… Then another about a Best Buy gift card!!! 😮
I received a txt yesterday from 425-877-5295 saying “You have been selected for a $1,000 Walmart GiftCard. Enter code “FREE” at http://www.walmart.com.mywm.biz/wm/?a to claim your prize: 148 left HURRY! Why did i receive this txt? This is the 2nd time ive received something like this in the past few weeks. Who is it from and what do they want?
Just checking in to say my wife also got the text claiming she won a $1000.00 gift card. The scam is still alive and well and growing!
I received a txt today from 714-686-4441, stating: “Dear Walmart shopper, your purchase last month won a $1000 Walmart Gift Card. Click here to claim: ww.WmartPlan.com (quit2end)”
I received one for apple (347-560-9715 with http://apple.com.winnersnow.info/ywybhprkol) on 03/23 and another one for Walmart (571-232-0194 with http://prize-patrol.net/walmart) on 03/18. How can we get them to stop?
I just got a message saying you just won 1000 walmart gift card from the walmart friends and family program enter free at walmart.wnrt.biz to get one now. I really am at a loss, is it true or not, is this their website?
Just received it. 480-845-9021
You can forward it to your phone company and they will investigate. I know it works for AT&T and if the news story was accurate, it works for all providers. If you forward the text to 7726, you will immediately receive a return text that asks for the number of the sender. Once you send that, you will get another text thanking you for your assistance. All the messages to 7726 will be free to your text plan. Hope this helps anyone wondering what to do.
you all need to stop playing dam games !!!!
you go to jail for geting other people info! are to hell one so you are the winner of 1,000 6feet deep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good
Where i write my i.d
I just got a text this morning. from giftcardsfreesite.com I deleted it. I’m glad I searched for this online.
Crap who is calling me Sunday Morning at 7:37am when I’ve already awoken at 5am to get my girlfriend out the door for the the hospital. Oh wait what is this, $1000 gift card from Walmart from 404-901-1952. I went back to bed. As a want to be HACKER I took great interest in following this up. My problem is having a girlfriend that isn’t a stupid blonde because underneath that blonde hair is a STUPID BRUNETTE who buys her die at WALMART and looses her hair. Why do I say that, because she fails to understand what happens to your privacy when fill out every form at every store from Victoria Secret, Express, Belk, and Maceys. Stop using CREDIT CARDS…go back to cash and don’t buy it because you get two for one or 40 off. That scammed you out of your money. So I know her own personnel data has been compromised when she shows me hundreds of e-mails submitted to her by each store every day. In case of emergency who to call. Why did you give somebody my number? Are you that stupid…Keep me out of this. This phishing form of scam could obtain our numbers from hundreds of sources. PEOPLE you want to be famous on FACEBOOK and you got Scammed into BUYING FACEBOOK STOCK…Suckered by Walstreet like the two college partners he stole the concept from…Dishonest men are not worth their word, ask any crook that drives fancy cars and manages the church you just prayed in…Walmart customer, you’ve been SCAMMED for a GIFT VOUCHER worth $1000 absolutely FREE! Claim your reward now at http://www.giftcardsfreesite.com AS ADAM SANDLER SAYS IT “FOR? FREEEEE” aka DON’T BE A DUMB ASS .. or better yet Adopt unknown children in Africa and date breathtaking women over the internet only to find a room full of men in Africa scamming you with a Walmart/Best Buy/or Lowes giftcards and clearing your bank account at this very moment…this is FRAUD and the United States has no authority over other countries that they work out of…like the DISH commercial Don’t be fooled by Cable when you already know your spending $100 bucks on COMCAST..if you have never been SCAMMED before and none of this has anything to do with you, think again about who we voted into the White House and is running for a second term! For all non-us citizens already registered to vote I ask that you claim my $1000 Walmart giftcard while using your personal information…just make up a Social Security Number we already know yours is a fake.
http://www.giftcardsfreesite.com
JUST GOT TEXT WITH $1000 PRIZE TO CLAIM!! ITS A SCAM. BEWARE!!!
Got text for being selected for a GIFT VOUCHER worth $1,000 for free. It directed me to go to giftcardsfreesite.com and I positive it is a scam. The phone number was 213-245-4508 do not believe any text messages that claim a free gift card via a text message.
The post above was the best information for situatiions like this.
1. Forward the scam text message to 7726
2. AT&T will reply with message asking for sender’s phone number
3. Reply to AT&T message with the original phone number that sent you the scam message.
Lets all keep doing this so we can stop the scams
Just received same Walmart $1000 gift card text from (915) 710-2176, I haven’t shopped at Walmart for over two years…
Saw this one comin’
Got this text message from 2023862557. I wish there was some way we could get retribution from these punks.
i recieved this message as well from 716-566-8946. You have just WON a FREE $1,000 walmart Gift Card,Enter “4924” at http.www.walmart.com.wzok.biz/?prizeid=4924 to Claim your FREE prize.