I was lied to. I don’t really know how this happened, but I had about $50 withdrawn from my bank account for so-called services that I didn’t approve of or see. Long story short, I had to freeze my card, but eventually my bank refunded the amount.
But not all scams have a happy ending. Today, more people are being scammed than ever before.
In fact, according to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, 73% of U.S. adults confirmed experiencing at least one online scam or attack, and most receive scam calls, text messages, and emails at least weekly.
The Pew Research Center reports: “Internet fraud and other cybercrimes are increasing dramatically, with losses reported to the FBI reaching a record $16.6 billion in 2024. The federal government, banks and companies are sounding the alarm.”
Many popular brands are often used by attackers to create phishing scams, with Walmart topping the list in the first quarter of 2023.
As a result, Walmart has been the target of a massive scam that has recently attracted attention in Washington.
The FCC’s Bureau of Enforcement requires SK Teleco to immediately stop fraudulent phone calls impersonating Walmart employees. Image source &col; Shutterstock
On December 2, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Enforcement Bureau required voice service provider SK Teleco to immediately stop fraudulent robocalls posing as Walmart employees.
If the company doesn’t take action to permanently block these and similar scam calls from passing through its network, it risks being cut off from U.S. communications networks, according to an FCC press release.
According to the FCC report, the scam is based on an artificial intelligence voice claiming to be “Carl” or “Emma” calling “from Walmart” and claiming that someone pre-authorized a PlayStation 5 order for $919.45 from someone’s Walmart account.
The voice will further guide customers, asking them to press 1 or call back if they want to cancel their order or contact a live operator.
Once consumers are connected with a live operator, they are asked to provide personally identifiable information, such as their Social Security number.
“It is illegal for scammers and thieves to use our phone networks to defraud consumers or steal personal data, and voice service providers must be part of the solution. While most providers understand this responsibility, we will not tolerate those who turn a blind eye and allow suspicious robocallers onto their networks,” said FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
