A new email scam has been circulating that promotes a fake opportunity to get a free Heybike Tyson ebike from Walmart. The deceptive emails claim Walmart is giving away the bikes for free to select customers as part of a “loyalty program”.
In reality, these emails are a scam designed to steal personal information and money from recipients. Walmart is not distributing free ebikes nor sponsoring such a promotion. The scam emails direct victims to shady websites unaffiliated with Walmart.
This article will provide an in-depth look at how this scam works, identify key warning signs to spot it, and offer advice if you unfortunately fell victim.
Overview of the Scam Emails
The fraudulent emails are made to appear as if they are official communications from Walmart. The subject lines often state things like “Congratulations, You have been selected!” or “Claim your free Heybike now!”.
The emails congratulate recipients for being chosen to receive a free Heybike Tyson electric bike for being a loyal Walmart customer. Some versions claim recipients were entered into a random drawing after completing a recent purchase.
The messages provide convincing details like the specific Heybike Tyson model being given away and its $1,698 retail value. Fake Walmart branding and logos add legitimacy.
Recipients are instructed to click a link to claim their free ebike before the limited supply runs out. Those who click are directed to shady websites unaffiliated with Walmart and prompted to complete a series of offers.
After finishing the offers, which require providing personal information and signing up for unwanted subscriptions, victims still never receive any free ebikes. The entire promotion is fictional.
Common Website Domains Used
Some common website domains used in this scam include:
- atmosephirin.cc
- abrasiveload.com
- zonedwest.com
- uspremiumdeals.com
These domains are made to sound official but actually have no connection to Walmart. The websites are solely designed to extract personal details and money from scam victims.
How the Scam Works Step-by-Step
Now let’s examine how this scam unfolds in detail so you know the red flags:
1. Recipients Get an Email Offering a Free Ebike
The first step is recipients receive an unsolicited email with subject lines like “Congratulations, You’ve been selected!” or “Huge news regarding your Walmart account!”.
The emails pretend to be official Walmart communications sent from addresses like “walmart@ebits.com”. The message congratulates recipients for being selected to receive a free Heybike Tyson ebike.
Reasons given include being a loyal customer or winning a fake drawing. Logos and branding make the emails appear credible on the surface.
2. Directing Victims to Complete Offers on Fake Websites
When recipients click the link to claim their free ebike, they are directed to fake websites that have nothing to do with Walmart.
These scam websites display photos of the Heybike Tyson and instructions to complete 2-3 additional offers to receive it for free.
Offers can include free trial subscriptions, online rebate offers, or completing surveys. All require submitting personal information and payment card details.
3. Collecting Personal Information and Money
To complete the offers, recipients are prompted to provide a range of personal details including name, address, email, phone number, and credit card information.
They must also complete “free trial” subscriptions that require payment card information. These trials convert into recurring monthly subscriptions with exorbitant fees after a short initial period.
In reality, all these offers exist only to steal identities, commit billing fraud, and extract as much money as possible from victims.
4. Never Receiving the Promised Free Ebike
After completing the survey offers and free trial subscriptions, victims find they are never sent any free Heybike Tyson ebike as promised.
The websites become unresponsive or inaccessible. Victims cannot get any confirmation of the ebike being shipped to them.
Meanwhile, scam websites and fake customer support numbers provided are specifically designed to offer no actual help.
5. Having to Dispute Fraudulent Charges
Soon victims start seeing monthly subscription charges appear from the “free trials” they signed up for after being promised the free ebike.
Recipients have to contact their bank or credit card company to report the billing fraud, cancel subscriptions, and attempt to get their money back.
This process often requires filing disputes and fraud claims that take time and documentation to correct. All while scammers walk away with the stolen personal information.
How to Spot This Scam Email
While scam emails are getting more advanced, there are still telltale signs you can look for to identify fraudulent messages:
- Scrutinize the sender’s email address – Scammers often use pretend addresses like “walmart@server.com” that sound legitimate but aren’t real Walmart addresses.
- Look for poor grammar, spelling errors, and awkward phrasing – Scams tend to have mistakes no official company would send out.
- Hover over hyperlinked text to preview destinations – Don’t click directly. See if shady redirects are used.
- Verify by contacting Walmart customer support – Ask if free ebikes are really being given away.
- Watch for urgent calls to act now – Scare tactics pressure recipients to act irrationally.
- Research the linked websites – Search online to see if security warnings have been issued.
- Beware offers too good to be true requiring payment info – Free ebikes worth hundreds of dollars raise suspicions.
- Check for Walmart verification badges on websites – Scam pages won’t have real certifications.
No legitimate company will ever ask you to provide personal details or payment information via unsolicited emails. If something seems suspicious, report the message to Walmart security and delete it.
What to Do if You Fell Victim
If you received one of these scam emails and unfortunately fell prey by providing your information, take these steps to protect yourself:
1. Contact Your Bank and Dispute Charges
Immediately call your bank or credit card company to report the fraudulent charges. Ask them to reverse any subscription fees or other charges related to the scam offers.
Provide details on the specific companies, offers, dates, and amounts you were charged. Request new cards with updated card numbers to prevent additional fraudulent charges.
2. Place Fraud Alerts on Your Credit Reports
Since scammers obtained your personal information, consider placing 90-day fraud alerts on your credit reports. This makes lenders take extra steps to verify your identity for new lines of credit.
Get free copies of your credit reports and set fraud alerts at AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228.
3. Monitor Your Accounts Closely
Carefully monitor all your financial accounts and credit reports for any signs of misuse of your information over the next 12-24 months. Report any suspicious activity immediately.
Update login credentials on accounts that may have been compromised. Enable two-factor authentication for an extra layer of security when possible.
4. Report the Scam
Submit reports about this scam to the FTC and FBI IC3 to aid law enforcement investigations. Provide details on the scam email content, sender addresses used, websites you visited, and losses incurred.
Also warn contacts who may receive similar phishing emails. Spreading awareness helps prevent others from being victimized.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Walmart free Heybike Tyson scam?
This is a phishing scam involving emails that falsely claim Walmart is giving away free Heybike Tyson ebikes to select customers. The emails are fake and used to steal personal information and money.
How does the Walmart free ebike scam work?
Recipients get emails stating they’ve been selected to receive a free high-value Heybike for being a loyal customer. If they click included links, they are directed to fake websites and prompted to complete survey offers. This requires submitting personal data and payment info. Victims never get a free ebike.
What are some red flags of this scam?
Suspicious sender addresses, grammar/spelling errors, urgent call to action, sketchy linked websites, requests for personal details, offers too good to be true requiring payment information.
What happens if I provide my information?
Scammers will steal your personal information and money. You may have your identity stolen or fraudulent charges made to your payment accounts. You will not receive a free ebike.
What should I do if I engaged with this scam?
Contact your bank to reverse any fraudulent charges. Place fraud alerts on your credit reports and monitor your accounts closely for suspicious activity. Report the scam to the FTC, FBI, Walmart, and contacts who may also receive the phishing emails.
How do I avoid this Walmart ebike scam?
Avoid clicking links or providing information in unsolicited emails promoting free products. Verify legitimacy directly with Walmart. Check sender addresses and linked sites closely. Don’t enter payment details on third-party websites.
Is Walmart really giving away free ebikes?
No, this is a completely fake promotion. Walmart is not distributing free high-value ebikes to customers. Ignore any emails you receive making such claims.
How can I spot and report scam emails?
Look for poor grammar, urgent demands, sketchy links, and unbelievable offers requiring personal/payment details. Report phishing emails to companies impersonated, email providers, the FTC, and FBI IC3. Delete scam messages.
The Bottom Line
Fake free product offers and loyalty rewards remain incredibly common tricks cybercriminals use in phishing scams via email. With the right precautions, recipients can identify red flags and avoid falling prey.
Be skeptical of any too-good-to-be-true offers you didn’t initiate contact about. Verify legitimacy before providing personal information or payment details. Learn to spot scam emails masquerading as trustworthy brands.
If you received a suspicious “free ebike” email or text supposedly from Walmart, err on the side of caution and report it rather than engaging. Protecting your hard-earned money and identity is top priority.
