Target Impersonation Scams
Scammers impersonate Target with fake order cancellation calls and gift card payment demands. Target will never instruct you to buy Target gift cards over the phone to resolve any account or order issue.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Target's well-known brand and gift card infrastructure make it a common tool in impersonation scams. The most frequent attack pattern mirrors the Walmart method: a fake order confirmation is sent, followed by a call urging the victim to cancel using gift card payments. Separately, scammers claim to represent Target HR with fake job offers.
The presence of Target gift card kiosks in physical stores actually benefits scammers, as victims can be coached through the purchase in real time by a caller keeping them on the phone.
How scammers impersonate it
- Sending fake order confirmation emails and asking recipients to call a fraudulent cancellation line
- Calling victims to claim they have won a Target gift card prize requiring a processing fee
- Using Target's brand in fake job offer messages sent via SMS or messaging apps
- Sending phishing emails offering Target gift cards for completing a survey with a link to a credential-harvesting page
- Spoofing Target's customer service number to make calls appear legitimate
What the real organisation never does
- Ask you to purchase Target gift cards to cancel an order or receive a refund
- Contact you unsolicited to inform you of a prize requiring any form of payment
- Provide customer support through a number you found outside target.com
- Send job offers via SMS or WhatsApp requesting upfront payments
Common red flags
- Order confirmation for items you did not buy, with a call-back number
- Any caller who mentions Target gift cards as the solution to a financial issue
- Target prize win notification that came out of nowhere
- Job offer text asking you to purchase equipment or gift cards as a condition of employment
- Survey link claiming to offer a Target gift card that asks for payment details
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
Email: 'Target Order Confirmed: [expensive item] — $[amount] charged to your account. To cancel: call [fake number].'
Call: 'You have been selected for a Target reward. To receive your gift card, please read us the numbers on the back of a Target gift card you have purchased today.'
How to verify
- Check your Target account at target.com for any real orders
- Contact Target guest services only at target.com/help or in-store
- Never buy gift cards in response to an unsolicited phone call, regardless of the reason given
- Target legitimate job postings are at careers.target.com — not via text or WhatsApp
What to do if you're targeted
- End the call immediately and do not purchase gift cards
- If gift cards were already purchased, report to Target's fraud team
- File a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
Frequently asked questions
A caller said my Target account was charged for an expensive item — what do I do?
Hang up and log in to your Target account directly at target.com. If there is no such order, the email or call was a scam designed to make you call a fake support line.