Beware: FCC Uncovers Deceptive Robocall Scam Posing as 'Walmart' – Crucial Insights You Need to Protect Yourself

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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken decisive action against a company accused of facilitating “illegal robocalls” that have been plaguing American consumers. The FCC’s cease-and-desist order targets a firm believed to be behind a large-scale scam operation.

According to the FCC, these robocalls featured an artificial voice claiming to be a Walmart representative, using names such as “Emma” or “Carl.” The pre-recorded message informed recipients of a supposed purchase on their Walmart account involving a PlayStation console and gaming headset, totaling $919.45. The call then offered an option to cancel this transaction, leading the recipient to a live person who sought to extract sensitive information, including social security numbers.

Investigations reveal approximately 8 million of these fraudulent calls have been made, highlighting the scale of the operation. An investigative firm working with the FCC exposed this widespread scam.

In response, the FCC has given SK Teleco, the company allegedly responsible, a two-day ultimatum to cease these operations. Failure to comply could result in U.S. telecommunications providers being ordered to block SK Teleco’s calls entirely.

Documents shared to the FCC’s website did not clarify whether SK Teleco had complied as of Friday. A representative for the agency was not immediately available to offer additional information.

“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,” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said of the scam calls in a news release issued this week. “While most providers understand this responsibility, we won’t tolerate those that turn a blind eye and allow shady robocallers on their networks.”

On its website, the FCC also offers several tips for thwarting robocallers and scammers, in part by not answering calls from unknown numbers, never saying “yes” if prompted by an unknown caller, and doublechecking that a call (like one claiming to be from Walmart) is legitimate by hanging up and calling back on a “valid number found on [the company’s] website.”

Telecommunications customers can also file complaints with the FCC about unwanted robocalls, or contact their provider to learn more about options for blocking such calls.

YouMail, a call screening and blocking service that tracks call volume, had estimated earlier this year that Americans were being subjected to more robocalls in the first half of 2025 than in the same time period in 2024. (Consumers received just over 4.8 billion robocalls in May 2025 alone, YouMail said.) But it’s not all scammers: An FCC rule change that would have limited the number of companies with access to Americans’ phone numbers was tossed out in court at the end of January 2025, paving the way for companies to share contact information more widely.

Alix Martichoux contributed to this report.