Fake Walmart Cash Back and Savings Catcher Reward Scam
Scammers send fake Walmart reward and cash-back notifications claiming accumulated store credits are about to expire, directing recipients to phishing pages to 'redeem' them.
Part of: Fake Loyalty Points Redemption Scams
Last reviewed: 7 June 2026
Walmart has historically operated various reward and savings programmes — including its Savings Catcher and Walmart Cash features within the Walmart Pay ecosystem. Awareness of these real programmes makes fake reward notifications more plausible to Walmart customers.
The scam typically arrives as a text or email claiming the recipient has earned a significant Walmart reward balance through purchases that is about to expire if not claimed. The message uses Walmart's blue-and-yellow branding and links to a fake redemption portal.
Walmart's genuine rewards and Walmart Cash balances are visible within the Walmart app under the Walmart Pay or Walmart Cash section. Customers do not need to visit external sites or enter card details to access these balances.
How this scam works on the Walmart brand
Fake Walmart reward messages arrive from non-Walmart numbers or addresses and cite a specific dollar amount — often $90-$200 — designed to be enticing but not so large as to seem implausible. The urgency framing states the balance will expire within 24-48 hours if not claimed.
The redemption portal asks the user to log in with their Walmart.com credentials, then confirms the balance and states a small 'redemption processing fee' must be paid to release the reward. Some variants skip the fee step and simply harvest the Walmart login credentials used on the fake sign-in page.
Social media variants use fake Walmart accounts or sponsored posts claiming the brand is running a customer appreciation giveaway and asking users to click, enter their details, and claim their reward.
Common red flags
- Reward notification from a sender that is not @walmart.com or a recognised Walmart shortcode
- A 'redemption processing fee' required before the cash-back reward can be released
- Reward link leads to a domain that is not walmart.com
- The reward amount is described as about to expire within hours or days
- The notification arrived by social media post from an account without Walmart's blue verified tick
How to protect yourself
- Check your Walmart Cash or reward balance directly in the Walmart app under Walmart Pay — do not use links in unsolicited messages
- Walmart does not charge fees to redeem loyalty balances — any fee request is a definitive red flag
- Never enter your Walmart account credentials on a page reached via an unsolicited link
- Report suspicious social media accounts impersonating Walmart to the platform using its reporting tools
How to report it
- Forward phishing texts to 7726 (SPAM)
- Report phishing emails to [email protected]
- Report fake social media accounts to the platform and to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- If you entered credentials, change your Walmart.com password immediately
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my real Walmart Cash balance?
Open the Walmart app and navigate to Walmart Pay or the Walmart Cash section. Your balance is visible there. You do not need to visit any external website or click any link to see it.
Does Walmart ever send texts about expiring rewards?
Walmart does send some promotional texts to customers who have opted in. However, genuine Walmart texts direct you to the Walmart app, not to external sites, and do not require payment of a fee to redeem balances.