Walmart isn’t refunding $500 to anyone who shopped there last year, despite online claims

In mid-September, several similar Facebook posts appeared online touting a $500 windfall for anyone who shopped at Walmart in 2022. 

"Wαlmαrt is required to pay $500 to customers from last year due to pricing issues," read two Sept. 12 posts. "Check if you're eligible for the refund by clicking 'Apply Now.' Answer a few questions to get started!

Another post, from Sept. 12, said: "Wαlmαrt must pay $500 to US families who made purchases in 2022. Check if you qualify for the refund by clicking 'Apply Now.’"

And a fourth post, from Sept. 15, said: "Walmart must pay $500 to US families who made purchases in 2022. Click 'Apply Now' to check if you qualify for the refund by answering 3 questions."

These posts were flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

We reached out to Walmart about the posts but didn’t immediately hear back. 

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However, we found no news reports or credible sources to corroborate the posts’ claims. 

What we did find: red flags that this is a scam. 

Two of the Facebook accounts sharing the supposed refund were created the same day the posts were published. The "apply now" link on one of the posts included the name of the account, Dolores McConnell, and identified this person as a journalist. But it listed "obsessionsalon.com" as McConell’s website, a domain that’s apparently for sale for more than $2,400.

Clicking the "apply now" link leads to a page unaffiliated with Walmart called greatdelsqqpl.space. And rather than mentioning anything about a required refund, it says, "Join Walmart’s fight against food waste: participate in our $500 gift card giveaway." 

Walmart’s website warns against these types of offers. 

"Don’t click on or respond to online ads or websites offering free gift cards," its website says. "Remember, if it sounds too good to believe, it is!"

We rate these posts False.