Walmart sells gift cards that can be loaded with a specific value and used to buy items at its stores. Unfortunately, scammers have found a way to rob customers of the cards’ value. The complaint for this class action holds responsible Walmart, Inc., Walmart Stores of Arkansas, LLC, Walmart Stores East, LP, saying that many of their gift cards have been tampered with and customers lose the funds loaded on them.
The classes for this action are state classes. They include, collectively, all persons in the US who bought compromised Walmart gift cards from Walmart retail stores, who loaded money onto the cards, and who lost the funds because either (a) they were used by a third party via the tampering, or (b) Walmart had deactivated the cards before they were used, where Walmart did not replace the card, reactivate the card, or refund the money that had been lost.
How does the scam work? The perpetrators go to a Walmart store and select a gift card, take off the security tape covering the PIN, record the number, then leaves the card where it was. When a customer takes the card and loads an amount on it, the scammer uses that number to make use of the money.
A long list of plaintiffs bring this class action, demonstrating that the problem is not rare. Here are some examples of their experiences:
- Plaintiff Pearlie Boyd of Alabama loaded $50 onto a Walmart card in June 2017. When she tried to use the card later that month, the funds had already been used by someone else.
- Plaintiff Monica Robinson of Arizona loaded $20 onto a Walmart card. When she tried to use it two months later, Walmart had deactivated the account.
- Plaintiff Joe Esquivel of California loaded $100 onto a Walmart card in November 2017. When he tried to use the card the following month, Walmart had already deactivated his account.
- Plaintiff Chris Pettit of Colorado loaded $500 onto a Walmart card in September 2017. When he tried to use the card later that month, the funds had already been used by someone else.
- Plaintiff John Almquist, Jr. of Washington, DC bought a $500 Walmart gift card in July 2017. When he tried to use the card the next day, Walmart had already deactivated the account.
The complaint claims that Walmart is at fault because it neither prevents the tampering nor warns the customer that cards may have been tampered with. (Presumably, they also don’t check to see if the security tape has been removed.)
The complaint alleges violations of state consumer laws, breach of contract, bailment, and unjust enrichment.
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
Walmart Stolen Gift Card PINs Cost Customers Money Complaint
August 15, 2019
Walmart sells gift cards that can be loaded with a specific value and used to buy items at its stores. Unfortunately, scammers have found a way to rob customers of the cards’ value. The complaint for this class action holds responsible Walmart, Inc., Walmart Stores of Arkansas, LLC, Walmart Stores East, LP, saying that many of their gift cards have been tampered with and customers lose the funds loaded on them.
walmart_tampering_with_gift_cards_complaint.pdfCase Event History
Walmart Stolen Gift Card PINs Cost Customers Money Complaint
August 15, 2019
Walmart sells gift cards that can be loaded with a specific value and used to buy items at its stores. Unfortunately, scammers have found a way to rob customers of the cards’ value. The complaint for this class action holds responsible Walmart, Inc., Walmart Stores of Arkansas, LLC, Walmart Stores East, LP, saying that many of their gift cards have been tampered with and customers lose the funds loaded on them.
walmart_tampering_with_gift_cards_complaint.pdf