Don’t you love the self-checkout options at retailers like Walmart? Me, too. In fact, they’re so popular that they’ve become the target of scammers. What this means for Walmart shoppers is that they should be on the lookout for the self-checkout scam.
The Walmart self-checkout scam
When I go to a self-checkout line, I’m not expecting to be scammed. What I may be, though, is feeling rushed. In a busy store, there can be several other shoppers waiting for me to scan my items, pay for them, and move on. Those of us with one eye on the line and the other on the kiosk are prime targets for the new Walmart self-checkout scam.
How the scam works
This scam was first reported by The Sun when this incident occurred in a Texas Walmart. A shopper was checking out when his friend noticed a couple of unusual charges on the receipt. The pair asked a Walmart employee about the charges. It didn’t take long to figure out that the previous customer had purchased a prepaid Visa card, hoping the next customer wouldn’t notice. The previous customer deliberately left his transaction unfinished and would have activated the card after the innocent shopper left the store. Fortunately, thanks to a friend’s attention to detail, the innocent customer narrowly escaped paying for the scammer’s Visa card.
Avoiding the scam
Even though I’m calling this the Walmart self-checkout scam, this could happen at any retailer that offers self-checkout. However, with just a few simple precautions, avoiding this scam is easy.
Tip #1: Verify that any previous transactions on your kiosk have been cleared. The way to tell is to look for a welcome message or a message that asks you to scan your first item. If you have any doubts, check with an employee.
Tip #2: Check your receipt before you leave the store. If there are any charges you don’t understand or disagree with, talk to an employee immediately. After all, your case will be much stronger if you’re still in the store and dealing with them face-to-face.
Tip #3: Use a credit card for your purchases. I get it if you don’t like credit cards. Just remember that if you use a debit card, check, or cash, you’re losing the protections credit card companies offer.
Did you see last month’s scam tip? You can find it at Avoiding the 2023 IRS tax scams. Click here to view more Friday Morning Post entries, or you can follow me on Twitter.
I had never heard of this! Thanks for sharing.