Ignore that Text! You Didn't Win a Walmart Gift Card

Cell phone users are receiving suspicious text messages that claim to be from Walmart. The texts tell consumers they won a free gift card... and all they have to do is click a link and enter some information.

Unfortunately, there is no gift card. It's a scam to steal your credit card number and other personal info.

About the scam:
This scam has several versions. In one, the text reads "You just won a free $1000 Walmart Gift Card, enter "1000" at LINK." In another, it says: "Walmart $1000 gift card for the first 1000 users to go to LINK and enter code 2938." The texts also use different URLs, including:

• promocenterdaily.com/walmart_gift
• promocenter.ws/walmart
• walmartgift.mobi

See a screen shot of a scam message here.

The text message is a twist on the classic email phishing scam, where scammers pose as a legitimate organization and send out emails containing links to scam sites. Phishing scams using SMS technology are known as "smishing."

If you receive similar texts or emails, BBB has this advice:

- Contact your cell carrier.

· Discuss smishing scams with all members of your family who have cell phones, from the youngest to the oldest.

· Do not click on links in text messages or emails offering prizes or ‘free’ products or trial offers.

· Delete any texts or emails that claim you have won a prize or are eligible for a free product.

· Do not provide personal information to claim ‘prizes’ or to sign up for free trials.

· Never give your credit card number, social security number or bank account information to pay for fees, taxes, or shipping costs for anything that you may have ‘won’ or are getting for ‘free’.

· Check your bank statements and credit cards on a regular basis for unauthorized charges.

· Check you and your children’s credit reports with all three credit bureaus annually for any unauthorized credit accounts that have been opened using your social insurance numbers.

More information
For more information, please see the statement on Walmart's website.

For more information about protecting your identity, please visit www.bbb.org.

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