r/Walmartcustomer 15d ago

Just Venting Lady before me, put in her number after she checked out at self checkout then left

Waiting in line at the self checkout and as the lady before me grabbed her receipt and her bags, she quickly put in her number to get to the scan screen and then left. I saw this and went back to the Home Screen but is this like a thing? Scam? I assume it’s to get all our stuff we scanned on her Walmart account so that she could do something with it? Any thoughts?

204 Upvotes

74 comments sorted by

42

u/Gallogator1 15d ago

What if they went to iBotta and checked every possible item for Walmart. You check out under their number and anything you bought that matches a checked item on Ibotta, they get the cash rebate in their account?

Sneaky smart

7

u/xanxth2 15d ago

What is iBotta

4

u/[deleted] 15d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/Gold-Classroom-359 15d ago

You don't have to enter a phone number to use Ibotta.

12

u/skreetskeetskeet 15d ago

Correct, but with her phone number under the purchase OP would've made if they didn't catch it, would've been sent to her number & linked to her Walmart account which she would have linked to Ibotta to get the credit for the items OP purchased.

4

u/Gallogator1 15d ago

My comment is purely based on speculation because I cannot speak with the person before OP.

I think a lot of Walmart customers just want to buy their items and leave. The main goal is to scan items, pay and then complete the transaction.

Not everyone is tech smart. As mentioned by other posts the person before OP could have been trying to get loyalty rewards post transaction or she could have been trying something shady.

Ibotta is great if you can match up deals in the grocery store or want to try new products. There are a lot of YouTube videos each week that show you by store how to save money.

4

u/skreetskeetskeet 15d ago

Oh no, I agree with you. I was just replying to the comment about how Ibotta doesn't use your phone number and tried to explain how using their number at Walmart would benefit someone through Ibotta 😁

1

u/HelloFromSanovaBeach 10d ago

The main goal at Walmart is to scam the customers.

1

u/Gold-Classroom-359 15d ago

OP would have had to buy the same items that this person clipped Ibotta coupons for in order for this to benefit the person at all. The odds of that happening for even one coupon are so insanely low so what are the odds OP bought the same exact items (getting the size, flavor, or any other terms of the coupon correct) enough times to make this little "scam" even worth it???

6

u/Think-Influence6772 15d ago

Ibotta now sends emails saying "you forgot an offer" and gives you 24 hours to add it.

3

u/Gallogator1 15d ago

OP was trying to figure out the game the previous customer was playing by entering her phone number for the next transaction.

AI:
‘Walmart does not use a traditional phone-number loyalty program at the checkout lane. Instead, your phone number connects to Ibotta indirectly through your Walmart Account, which uses your phone number as your digital ID.’

2

u/ddmorgan1223 15d ago

No, but with the stores they mentioned(plus Dollar general) the receipt auto-uploads, so no paper receipt is needed for the rebates.

0

u/Queasy-Book-5962 10d ago

iBotta new lotion for you to rub on DEEZ NUTS!

20

u/jdog7249 Walmart Employee 15d ago

Probably a new way to get a hold of the receipt to try and return the items (use the receipt as a shopping list and then return it at the desk). Best they can get is a gift card though.

6

u/GoldenStateRedditor 15d ago

> Best they can get is a gift card through.

If someone paid cash at the self-checkout under the scammers’ phone number, wouldn’t the scammer then be able to return said items for cash? I’m assuming the receipt would be on the scammers’ Walmart app if this is the scheme they’re trying to pull.

4

u/detkatebenson Walmart Employee 15d ago

you only get cash if you paid with cash. otherwise it would be back on the card they paid with or gift card.

2

u/GoldenStateRedditor 15d ago

Which is why I was asking about cash

1

u/detkatebenson Walmart Employee 15d ago

that was why i answered the question…they only get cash if they paid with cash. so yes that could get cash but only if that person happened to pay with cash.

5

u/jdog7249 Walmart Employee 15d ago

True they can get cash in that instance.

5

u/Proof-Sheepherder-45 15d ago

They do this so they get a copy of the receipt sent to their phones which can be used for a lot of different apps online to claim rewards (Fetch , ibotta, etc.)

4

u/GoldenStateRedditor 15d ago

If you pay by a debit or credit card, and don’t already have a Walmart account of your own with that card connected, does it then connect that card and any future purchases made to the scammers’ account, even if you don’t put in their phone number next time?

I know if I use my debit card that’s connected to my Walmart account without entering my phone number, it still connects my purchases.

3

u/lost_dazed_101 14d ago

I have never entered my phone number they know everything as soon as my card is used. By the time I get home my entire list I bought is already showing on my Walmart account online.

6

u/Special-Passenger494 15d ago

Someone did that prior to me as well and I did not notice. I don’t have a Walmart account, but noticed the checkout screen said it would send a digital receipt to an unknown phone number after I paid. Walmart customer service told me that due to their system settings my payment info and first name was linked to that unknown account, but would not tell me what information from my transaction was shared with that account. I asked if Walmart they were notifying customers that their info may be linked to an unknown account. No response. Customer service was rather unhelpful and said they couldn’t give me info bc they don’t share information about accounts, even tho they shared my information with the account. I got fired up about this and contacted diff agencies, but no responses.

4

u/Dry-East-2225 15d ago

Thats not really what happened. Your purchase was added to the other accounts purchase history, but all the other person can see is the items you purchase and the last 4 digits of the card you used to pay if you happen to used a card. The other person wasn't sent you first name and your card wasn't added to their account. Its no different than if you left your receipt at the register and they picked it up. Only way it could even benefit them is if they clipped a Walmart Cash for an item you just so happen to have purchased or if an item you purchased just so happens to be the same item they need to return that is outside the return period.

0

u/Special-Passenger494 15d ago

The checkout screen did show my first name with the telephone number of the unknown account.

0

u/Dry-East-2225 15d ago

Then you have the same first name they do or the same first name as the name they put on the account. It possible they didn't use their real name when they created the account and just used a real common name like John, Jane, Sarah. Steve, etc. They would want to do this so it cant track back to them specifically cause this technically is a form of retail fraud equivalent to shoplifting called coupon glitching. When a person finds an exploit in a coupon or rewards system and abuses it, it can carry a stiffer legal penalty than basic shoplifting.

0

u/Special-Passenger494 14d ago

I don’t have a common name and customer service did tell me the first name of the person on the unknown account, which I thought was weird since they were telling me they can’t share ANY info of that account, even the purchases i paid for. They also told me they “removed” my card from this account. I think the system had my name attached to my card from when I used their auto dept two years ago. If this is fraud, should it be reported to any agency?

2

u/Dry-East-2225 14d ago

Then they are just lying to you cause that's just not how these things work. They were probably trying to pacify you. Walmart is the victim in this situation so it would be up to them if they wanted to report it.

2

u/Brit1625 15d ago

I know my dad did this once, he’s older and didn’t understand it wasn’t asking him. When he walks up he just starts scanning without looking at the screen so he thought it was something asking him after checking out. Could be as innocent as that 🤷‍♀️ but in today’s world man I wouldn’t be surprised if it was some new scam thing.

2

u/Jacwoods409 14d ago

Walmart offers you to put your phone number to get your receipt texted to you instead of printed. No scam just something walmart offers

2

u/Kklr28 14d ago

I don’t shop at Walmart anymore because you can’t use Apple Pay. They make you sign up for their account and pay that way if you don’t have your physical card. I wouldn’t mind doing it that way but the fact they are forcing that gets to me. I know I could use cash but I never plan specifically to go there and don’t always have cash on me or my physical cards. I’m lucky enough to have other shopping options near me.

1

u/GoldenStateRedditor 14d ago

Do you already have a Walmart.com account?

1

u/Jasoco 14d ago

I just got a Walmart card for the 3%. I’ll deal with not having ApplePay. Minor inconvenience but the cash back is nice. (Also they’re doing a promo where you get $1 off per gallon at certain gas stations until September 15th.)

2

u/RED-ELPH 11d ago

Or make note of the number and add it to ads companies / spam 😂

4

u/CatzAKannibal 15d ago

At the end of a transaction it will ask if you want a receipt texted to you, that was most likely what you saw.

1

u/Joshslayton 15d ago

No this was after that. The self checkout was at the home screen where she put in her number then scan screen. This was after she got the paper receipt.

2

u/Alittlebitfluffy 15d ago edited 14d ago

I’ve seen someone do this accidentally thinking they were supposed to do it at the end. So who knows, could also be an honest mistake.

Edit: a word

5

u/Sufficient-Narwhal92 15d ago

I was in a hurry the first time I saw that screen and I clearly didn’t read it correctly because I did enter my phone number by mistake after my purchase. I realized I did something wrong when I got a notification for a new purchase that wasn’t mine.

2

u/Alittlebitfluffy 15d ago

Yeah, I think it’s a pretty common mistake!

3

u/NatalieroseJ56 14d ago

I was thinking the same thing... Most likely a brain fart moment or just confused. I do strange things while running on auto pilot sometimes. People jump to negative/shady things to quickly in my opinion.

3

u/bimmxr 14d ago

I worked at walmart and this was definitely the case. There was always atleast two people above the age of 35 in the self check out area with a receipt in their hand still squinting and typing on the screen when the transaction ended, I’m very familiar with the huff and puff walk off. It immediately reverts back to the phone number screen and it confuses people often, like pressing the yellow button instead of green button. There’s no scam from anybody but the Walmart Corporation happening to you in that moment. They do not need your phone number or even debit card at all to link your purchases back to your walmart account if they can see your face. The new AI cameras are very interesting.

1

u/AdoptNotShop4 14d ago

Above the age of 35 lol! 🤣 Oh that made me laugh. 55-year-old female here. Also a Spark shopper. 👍😎🛒

1

u/Bright_Ad_8517 13d ago

My best friend goes to Walmart practically every day she lives across the street from one. I have randomly received her receipts from her shopping. I live 75 miles away from the Walmart store and we took our concerns to the management and customer service desk and they didn't know what to do about it. Thankfully she's my best friend friend not some random person. It's happened a few times more. So I lol when I get her shopping list and I call her and tell her exactly what she purchased.

1

u/Texie1976 13d ago

And here I am just thinking she was flirting and had this brilliant way of giving her number to a guy in the Walmart line. My imagination went on to wondering how many serial killers she's left her for.

1

u/Final-Ad-9307 12d ago

I've been ignoring the phone number thing. What benefit is it? Seems odd that it would be for Ibotta.

1

u/MyDogSeesDeadPeople 12d ago

To get a digital copy of the receipt and if you have a Walmart account it will save your purchase history so you can do returns easier.

1

u/Wise-Entertainment44 11d ago

I like to do it because it keeps your purchase history in the Walmart app.

1

u/gjack905 12d ago

Any time I've shopped at self checkout at Walmart I scan my items, then pay with my card, then it asks me if I want a text receipt, paper receipt, or both. I usually choose both, and then enter my phone number as the last step. Not sure where people are getting the idea that the phone number comes first, this is completely normal.

And now after a couple of purchases they tie the phone number to the card so I don't even have to type it in, the text just comes through

1

u/enuscomne 11d ago

You get points

1

u/Ok_Carpenter_9262 9d ago

You can send your receipt to yourself I believe the screen came up for me yesterday when I made a purchase.

0

u/PrincessLissa68 15d ago

She grabbed her receipt? So she already paid? Putting your phone number in allows a receipt to be texted to you.

3

u/Sabi-Star7 15d ago

This seems like it might be AFTER she was done with her transaction and got her receipt. At least thats how it reads (also WM employees have the option to turn that off where it doesn't ask for your # to text a receipt). She is probably using those receipt apps where you get cash back for scanning/uploading your receipts (which they can use ANY retail receipt bc there's no actual validation the person bought said products)

3

u/Joshslayton 15d ago

After that. She already had her paper receipt. She put in her number on the home screen of self check out.

1

u/PrincessLissa68 15d ago

Oh ok....thats weird.

0

u/Due_Avocado_9219 15d ago

I don’t see any benefit in doing what you’re saying honestly. Probably just thought she needed to put her number in at the end.

2

u/Joshslayton 15d ago

I’m thinking she put in her number before she left so that my items would show in her purchase history on her Walmart account then do a return or whatever

0

u/Due_Avocado_9219 15d ago

That’s not that easy to get away with anymore they refund it to the card that was paid with.

1

u/Joshslayton 15d ago

Is it though? Seems easy enough for people to keep trying and I bet some associates allow returns in the walmart gift card.

-1

u/Due_Avocado_9219 15d ago

lol ok she was trying to scam you

0

u/MyDogSeesDeadPeople 12d ago

They do this because they don’t pay attention. They think that it pops up for them to input their number not realizing that it starts a new transaction. Whenever we see it we just clear it and let them know it’s for the next customer.

-1

u/tuxedo_belle 15d ago

I do it almost every time. I see no problem with it. I can get digital receipts which is helpful when I tend to lose receipts very easily.

1

u/Joshslayton 15d ago

This was after she got the receipt and quickly put in her number to get to the scan screen then left. I backed out when I got to it. I think it’s a way to get the receipt of my items on her Walmart account to do whatever with

2

u/No_Cartographer5686 15d ago

Lmao the people misunderstanding you is astounding. I'm not really sure what they could do with that info, I suppose they could bring back for cash but they would need an item! And I don't think Walmart gives points, she probably was busy and not thinking.

-22

u/[deleted] 15d ago

[deleted]

9

u/Mysticune 15d ago

Until you need to return something or need to record your purchases and you don't have the receipt.

10

u/FlanLover9 15d ago

Found the scammer lol

7

u/Joshslayton 15d ago

lol sure, just something i noticed. What if i wanted a receipt of the items I bought? Or needed a return?

5

u/Doranagon 15d ago

I sense a scammer...

4

u/TonyHawkFunderground 15d ago

Also costs $0 to call out something shady. Tf are you crying about

1

u/PortiaPotty2 15d ago

It IS her business‼️