Top Stories Wichita

By Kim Wilhelm (WICHITA, Kan.)

A new scam is making its way around cell phones in Kansas. The text message tells you you’ve won a $200 Walmart voucher and instructs you to call a 877 number to claim your prize. 

When you call the number, the person on the other end of the line tells you they’ll send you the voucher if you give your credit card information to pay for a $9.90 shipping fee.

When we called the number, the person on the other end of the line said they marketing partners with Walmart.  But Walmart says the company has nothing to do with this offer and urged people who got the text message to report it to the Federal Trade Commission. 

Walmart does award gift cards if you take part in a customer service survey found on your receipt.  But a Walmart spokesperson says the company tells consumers they’ve won through certified mail and a phone call.  Walmart will never ask for your personal or banking information. 

The Better Business Bureau says text messages like this are gaining in popularity.  The organization says unless it’s an alert you’ve signed up for, don’t respond and never give out personal information.