Robocall Scam Impersonating Walmart Hits Millions; FCC Orders Provider to Shut It Down

A massive robocall scheme impersonating Walmart has triggered an urgent response from US regulators. On December 2, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a cease-and-desist order to SK Teleco, a voice service provider accused of transmitting scam calls designed to steal consumers’ personal information, including Social Security Numbers.

The message was simple but convincing: an artificial voice named “Emma” or “Carl” claimed a $919.45 PlayStation 5 purchase was about to be charged to the victim’s “Walmart account.” Anyone who wanted to cancel was instructed to “press 1.” Behind that prompt, however, waited live scammers wanting to extract sensitive data.

“If it fails to take action to permanently prevent this traffic and similar scam calls from traversing its networks, SK Teleco risks being cut off from U.S. communications networks,” the FCC said in a statement.

Inside the Fake Walmart Robocall Scheme

Nearly 8 million robocalls (YouMail estimates) tied to this scam flooded Americans’ phones between January 21 and April 11, 2025, according to the press release. The calls used an AI voice identifying itself as “Emma” or “Carl” calls “from Walmart” claiming:

“A preauthorized purchase of PlayStation 5 special edition with pulse 3D headset is being ordered from your Walmart account for an amount of $919.45. To cancel your order or to connect with one of our customer support representatives, please press 1.”

The moment victims engaged, they were connected to human operators who asked for highly sensitive details including full names, addresses, and even Social Security Numbers.

The playbook mirrors classic “refund scams,” this time using Walmart’s name for instant credibility.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr emphasized that providers have a legal obligation to stop illegal traffic on their networks, stating:

“Scammers and thieves using our phone networks to defraud consumers or steal personal data is illegal and voice service providers must be part of the solution. While most providers understand this responsibility, we won’t tolerate those that turn a blind eye and allow shady robocallers on their networks.”

Under federal law, robocalls with artificial or prerecorded voice messages cannot be made to mobile phones without prior consent, except for emergencies. Failure to act could mean the FCC may order every major US provider to block all traffic from SK Teleco, effectively removing it from the nation’s communications infrastructure.

How to Protect Yourself From Robocall Impersonation Scams

Scam calls that mimic retailers rely on speed, pressure, and the element of surprise. Here’s how to ahead of them:

Double-check every ‘urgent’ call

If someone claims you approved a large purchase, don’t follow the prompts. End the call and confirm the information directly in your Walmart, Amazon, or bank account. Real companies never cancel orders over an unsolicited robocall.

Be mindful that AI can mimic anyone

Scammers now use polished synthetic voices to sound convincing. Whether the caller sounds robotic or perfectly natural, treat any unexpected purchase alert or “verification request” with caution.

Protect your phone with tools that filter out bad calls

A secure device makes you a harder target. Keep your operating system updated, enable anti-fraud protections, and use security apps that help block suspicious calls before they reach you.

If you’re using Android, Bitdefender Mobile Security includes call-blocking features that automatically filter known scam numbers, reduce unwanted calls, and give you more control over who can reach you.

Share carefully, especially when under pressure

No legitimate support representative will ask for your Social Security Number, full address, or banking details to stop a purchase. If the caller insists, that’s your cue to hang up.

Use trusted tools to analyze anything suspicious

If something feels off, you don’t have to guess – paste the message or voicemail script into Bitdefender Scamio for instant guidance.

And before opening a link in a text or email, you can scan it with Bitdefender Link Checker to see whether it’s safe.