The provided source material does not contain information about legitimate free samples, promotional offers, no-cost product trials, brand freebies, or mail-in sample programs from Walmart or any other brand. Instead, the sources exclusively detail various scams, malware campaigns, and security threats falsely associated with Walmart. These threats involve malicious actors using Walmart's name and features to defraud consumers or infect their devices. This article will detail these specific threats based on the provided documentation.
Virtual Shopping List Exploitation
Researchers at Malwarebytes have identified a threat where actors abuse the Walmart Lists feature to trick customers. Walmart Lists is a legitimate feature on the Walmart website and app that allows users to create and share shopping lists. However, scammers are utilizing this feature to impersonate Walmart support.
According to the documentation, threat actors create lists containing "Walmart Customer Support" alongside a phone number. These lists are promoted through Google Ads that appear when users search for Walmart's customer service. If a user clicks on these sponsored ads, they are redirected to the fraudulent list.
Upon calling the number provided on the list, the victim is connected to a scammer. The scammer falsely claims that a warrant is out for the victim's arrest due to a recent transaction allegedly sent to a narco-trafficking group. The scammer, impersonating a bank employee or law enforcement investigator, attempts to trick the victim into transferring money into a Bitcoin account to "prevent additional transactions."
To avoid this threat, the documentation recommends exercising caution with sponsored results in search engines, noting that malvertising campaigns are ongoing and relentless.
Malware Distribution via Fake Emails
A significant portion of the source data concerns the "Walmart email virus," a spam campaign designed to proliferate malware. This campaign involves mass-scale distribution of deceptive emails presented as delivery notifications or payment invoices from Walmart.
The Phishing Mechanism
The fraudulent emails typically carry a subject line such as "Invoice copy 6936415" (though the number varies). The email informs the recipient that their payment has been received and their parcel is ready for delivery. It requests the recipient to review a "payment invoice" attached to the email.
The attachment is usually a Microsoft Office Excel document (e.g., "Invoice_78084.xlsm"). If the user opens this document and enables macros, the download and installation of the Dridex malware are initiated.
The Payload: Dridex Malware
Dridex is a malicious program with primary functionality focused on data theft. It possesses keylogging abilities, which allow it to record keystrokes and steal sensitive information such as passwords and banking credentials. The documentation notes that the ultimate goal of these spam campaigns is to generate revenue for the cybercriminals behind them.
The emails are designed to look legitimate, often mimicking Walmart's branding and layout. However, the source material emphasizes that these emails are fraudulent and are in no way associated with Walmart Inc. The emails may also contain download links to malicious content in addition to or instead of attachments.
Removal and Prevention
The source material suggests that manual threat removal can be a lengthy and complicated process requiring advanced IT skills. It recommends using legitimate antivirus software to scan the computer and eliminate threats. Specific recommendations in the text point to professional automatic malware removal tools.
To prevent infection, the sources advise: * Exercising caution with incoming emails, particularly those marked as urgent or important. * Avoiding opening attachments or clicking links in unsolicited emails. * Never enabling macros in documents from unverified sources.
Other Walmart-Associated Scams
Beyond email phishing and list exploitation, the documentation highlights several other scams leveraging the Walmart brand.
"Gift Card Virus" Pop-ups
This variation involves pop-ups appearing in a user's web browser advertising free Walmart gift cards, usually contingent on completing a survey. The presence of these pop-ups indicates that the device has likely been infected with adware—a type of malware that takes over the browser to display repeated advertisements.
The recommended course of action is to close the page immediately without clicking links or entering information. The persistence of these pop-ups requires the removal of the malicious code, typically achieved through antivirus software.
Facebook Marketplace Gift Card Fraud
Scammers utilize platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist to sell fake or spent Walmart gift cards at a discount. Even if a gift card appears brand new and untampered, scammers may have stolen the numbers before the sale. This results in the buyer receiving a card with zero value.
General Spam Campaigns
The source material lists other large-scale spam campaigns that use similar tactics to those targeting Walmart customers, including "Spring Marine Management S.A.", "Romanian Post", "Employee Retention Credit", and "KIO KOREA". These campaigns often disguise emails as urgent notifications from real companies or institutions to facilitate phishing or malware distribution.
Identifying and Avoiding Threats
The documentation provides several indicators to help users identify fraudulent communications.
- Suspicious Attachments: Files with extensions like
.xlsm(Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook) or other executable formats distributed via email are high-risk. - Urgency and Threats: Emails that create a sense of panic, such as claims of arrest warrants or account suspension, are likely scams.
- Unsolicited Invoices: Receiving a payment invoice for an order the recipient did not make is a strong indicator of a scam attempt.
- Macro Prompts: Legitimate invoices or documents rarely require the user to enable macros to view content.
Security Best Practices
The sources emphasize several security measures for consumers: * Password Management: If a user believes their Walmart.com login is compromised, they should sign in directly through the official website to change their password. They should never enter credentials on a site linked from an email. * Email Verification: Walmart states in the provided text that they will never ask for personal information (such as passwords or credit card numbers) in an email. * Antivirus Software: Keeping a dependable anti-virus/anti-malware suite installed and updated is crucial. Regular system scans can detect and remove threats. * Direct Navigation: When seeking customer support or logging into accounts, users should type the URL directly into the browser rather than clicking links in emails or ads.
Conclusion
The provided source material offers no information regarding legitimate freebies or sample programs. Instead, it serves as a warning system regarding the various scams and malware threats that exploit the Walmart brand. Consumers are targeted through manipulated search results (virtual shopping lists), malicious email attachments (the "Walmart email virus"), browser-based adware (gift card pop-ups), and marketplace fraud. The primary defense against these threats is vigilance: avoiding suspicious links, not enabling macros in unexpected documents, verifying the source of all communications, and maintaining robust antivirus protection.