Many Costco scams are going around, and they can be quite sneaky!
Mary, 72, a widow in Gilbert, Arizona, got an email inviting her to participate in an online survey about Costco Wholesale. A former customer, Mary, didn’t hesitate, thinking it was a way to make her come back. She was promised a gift for taking the survey and picked “a tiny, one-ounce bottle of CBD oil,” because she never tried it.
A retired teacher, Mary, used a debit card to pay a $5.90 fee for shipping and handling. Instead, she was charged $90—more than she had in her account—and slapped with a $35 overdraft fee.
This is just one example of the Costco scams that a lot of people are victims of.
With over $237 billion in sales in 2023 alone and millions of customers, Costco is one of the world’s biggest retailers—and a prime target for fraudsters and scammers.
According to experts, Americans lost nearly $361 million to online shopping scams in 2023, with many scammers using Costco’s name to scam shoppers.
If you’re a Costco member, you could wind up losing money or having personal information mishandled if you fall for the many Costco scams going around. Whether it’s a text, website, online ad, or email, you must be cautious about what you respond to.
We’ve rounded up some of the most common Costco scams, so check this out, especially if you’re a Costco member!
1. Costco survey text messages, calls, emails, or letters
This is a scam in which fraudsters reach out to potential victims via email, phone, text, or even in printed letters, promising rewards or special offers if you fill out surveys about your Costco experience.
Victims of survey scams are asked to share personal information, including their addresses, names, or even bank account details.
As one of the most infamous Costco scams, it’s best to be informed about this one. If you receive a survey from Costco via text message, email, or letter and you want to ensure it’s legit, ask an employee next time you’re shopping there whether the company is currently sending surveys. Show them the survey, and they should be able to give you an answer.
If the survey is over the phone, don’t crack under pressure and give out your personal information. Trust your gut; if the caller entices you with a large amount of money, it’s too good to be true. You’re just one step away from becoming a victim of Costco scams. You can use this notebook to write down the phone numbers trying to lure you into scams, so next time they call you, you know not to answer.
Legitimate companies will never ask for details like your two-factor authentication codes, SSN, or bank account information when they send you surveys. Any customer satisfaction survey that asks for these details is likely a scam.
2. Imposter Costco websites
Hackers make spoofed versions of the Costco website to try and fool victims into buying goods or entering personal information.
This is another example of Costco scams that tend to be pretty successful, unfortunately. These imposter websites are often part of larger phishing frauds that start with texts and emails.
Whether you clicked a link or found it among the search results, you might end up on a website that closely resembles Costco’s and advertises special deals. However, if you check the URL, which is the link to the website, you’ll see something other than Costco.com.
If your usual login information doesn’t work on the website, you have another confirmation that you’re not actually on the real Costco website.
3. Phony Costco order confirmation emails
No. 3 on the list of Costco scams is when you receive an email notification about a recent (typically large) Costco order supposedly placed from your account. If you try to see more details (or cancel the order via the provided link or support phone number listed in the email), you’re instead called by a scammer posing as a customer service representative.
When it comes to Costco scams like this one, the first thing you need to do is check your order history directly on the real Costco website. Remember to not click on any links in the shady emails you receive.
Another thing you can do is call the official Costco phone number. Avoid calling any numbers listed in the email, and instead call Costco’s official number for online order support.
4. Fraudulent Costco giveaways
In this scam, victims receive an email or text stating that they won a Costco giveaway, such as an electronic item or a gift card. But if you click on any links in the text or email to see what you’ve won, you’re sent to a fraudulent website that either downloads malware to your device or requests information to “verify” your identity.
If you receive a message like this, ask yourself if it seems too good to be true. If you don’t remember participating in any type of giveaway, you can be sure that the “prize” is a scam.
When it comes to Costco scams like this one, always check the email address the message was sent from. If the email isn’t sent from an official @costco.com email address, you can safely assume someone’s trying to fool you.
Also, beware of generic email greetings. If you’re addressed generically—such as “Valued Customer” or “Account Holder”—rather than by your name, consider it a red flag. This often indicates a scammer is trying to target a multitude of victims at once.
Keep reading to discover other Costco scams!
5. “Overcharge” reimbursement text messages
This scam typically comes in the form of a text message claiming that you were overcharged for a recent Costco order. To get your reimbursement, you’re asked to click on a link and share your bank details to process the so-called refund. It’s one of the most common Costco scams.
If this happens to you, the first thing you should remember is that overcharge refunds are usually processed automatically. In the case that Costco overcharges you for an order, the extra funds are refunded to you without any steps required on your behalf.
You may be sent a notification informing you that the refund was processed, but if you’re instructed to fill out a form or click on a link to get reimbursed, consider this a red flag.
Also, be cautious if you’re asked for your bank account details to process a refund. A trustworthy company that already has your payment details on file won’t ask you for your credit card or bank account numbers.
6. Spoofed social media posts
No. 6 on our list of Costco scams you should be wary of is when fraudsters create fraudulent social media profiles (often on Facebook) impersonating Costco. These scammers methodically build up their follower account by sharing phony Facebook photos and posts, and then either share quizzes or post about fake giveaways to steal personal information.
When it comes to Costco scams of this type, it’s recommended to always do a bit of research. To identify a fake Costco social media profit, check to figure out if the account is verified. Look for a blue or green check mark beside the profile name to see if a Costco social media account is legitimate.
You should also review recent account activity. A recently created account with few followers or posts is a sign of a fake social media profile.
7. Unexpected executive member reward emails
This scam is especially aimed at Costco executive members, which are those members who pay $120 on the Executive Membership. If you’re one of these members, you’re a target for Costco scams.
In this scam, you receive an email stating you’ve earned a reward and have to claim it before it expires. If you go to the provided link and click it, you could unknowingly download malware to your device. In some situations, you’re headed to a page requesting personal information to receive your reward.
In order to avoid these Costco scams, ignore these kinds of emails, especially if you aren’t an executive member. Executive membership requires an extra fee on top of a regular Costco membership. If you don’t pay for the executive membership and receive one of these emails, you can know it’s a scam.
8. Fake Costco job offers
No. 8 on our list of Costco scams is when scammers create fake Costco job offers. This phishing hoax starts with an email announcing that Costco is hiring in your area. In order to schedule an interview, you have to click on a link in the email, which, by the way, may download malware to your device.
In another version of the same scam, you’re asked to pay a large fee to “move on” with your application. Once you send the money, the potential job offer disappears.
Fraudsters use the promise of a well-paying job to trick victims. Pay attention to any potential warning signs of a job scam, such as emails from non-official email addresses, requests for sensitive information, and “interviews” via text messages or on platforms like Whatsapp.
If you’re contacted about a job interview, it’s best to talk to someone directly to set up a time to meet. Remember to never send money for applications or other processing fees. Legitimate companies will never ask you to pay just to be considered for a position. If you’re asked for money at any time during the hiring process, this is a clear sign of a scam.
9. Bogus delivery notifications
Scammers know that if you are a Costco customer, chances are you might be waiting for a delivery. In this scam, impostors impersonate Costco or even the US Postal Service and claim there was a mispelling in your shipping address (or another issue) with your delivery. This is one of the most common Costco scams that many people fall prey to.
If you click on the link they send to you to fix the problem, you’re taken to a website that looks very similar to the Costco official one. You enter your login credentials, and the scammers will steal them.
If you receive a delivery error notice related to a Costco order, don’t check the status of it through links found in unsolicited emails. Instead, log in to your Costco account, go to the “Orders & Returns” section, and click on the tracking link to check if a delivery issue is listed.
Also, make sure you ignore texts and delivery emails claiming to be from USPS. The USPS doesn’t send texts or emails about unclaimed packages or failed delivery attempts. If you get one, avoid interacting with it in any way.
If you liked our article on Costco scams, you may also want to read Costco Membership: 9 Free Things You Are Not Utilizing.
