Imagine answering your phone to a calm voice claiming to be “Carl” or “Emma” from Walmart, describing a $919.45 charge for a PlayStation 5 that you never authorized. For millions of Americans, that scene has played out repeatedlyâtriggering an unprecedented Federal Communications Commission enforcement action on December 2.
The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau ordered SK Teleco, a Montana-based voice service provider, to immediately cease all AI-powered robocalls impersonating Walmart employees.
FCC Issues Historic 48-Hour Ultimatum
The order carries unprecedented consequences: if SK Teleco fails to comply within 48 hours or prevent recurrence within 14 days, the FCC will disconnect the company entirely from U.S. communications networks.
According to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, such removal is a penalty the FCC has only imposed a few times throughout its history. This marks one of the agency’s most aggressive enforcement actions targeting telecom-enabled fraud on a large scale.
Robocalls Target Walmart Customers
According to YouMail, a robocall-blocking service, approximately 8 million AI-generated calls were made as part of this scheme, with the heaviest activity in Texas, California, Florida, Ohio, and Georgia. The Industry Traceback Group traced 29 calls directly to SK Teleco, establishing clear evidence of illegal traffic flowing through their infrastructure.
What distinguishes this campaign is its sophistication: artificial intelligence generates convincing, human-like voices that deliver scripted messages with alarming consistency.
PlayStation 5 Charge Designed to Trigger Fear
Scammers deliver the same message across all calls: a pre-authorized PlayStation 5 purchase with Pulse 3D headset for approximately $919.45, with instructions to press 1 to cancel. The specific dollar amount and high-value electronics are deliberately calculated.
This price tag triggers alarm and urgencyâleaving no time for verification. Victims feel motivated to act immediately, making snap decisions that compromise personal security and financial information.
From Robocall to Identity Theft
Once victims press 1, live operatorsâhuman scammersâtake over. They pose as Walmart representatives or shift tactics to federal agency employees. The operators request Social Security numbers, bank account details, credit card information, and verification codes.
A single callback can compromise an entire person’s financial identity and open gateways to devastating identity theft and economic ruin.
Walmart’s Trusted Brand
Walmart is impersonated in 16 percent of all phishing attacks globallyâmore than any other brand, according to Check Point Research. DHL follows at 13 percent, Microsoft at 12 percent. Criminals exploit Walmart’s trusted reputation because it commands attention and evokes a sense of urgency.
When “Carl” or “Emma” calls claiming to represent a company you shop at regularly, your guard drops. The psychological distance between a trusted retailer and a criminal suddenly becomes very short.
Walmart Customers Face Potential Exposure Risk
Walmart serves approximately 140 million U.S. customers weekly. While 8 million robocalls were confirmed, actual exposure extends far beyond this figure. Many victims received multiple calls from spoofed numbers across different days.
Given the campaign’s duration since January 2025 and Walmart’s massive customer base, a significant portion of America’s largest retail customer network has the potential to be exposed to this sophisticated fraud scheme.
SK Teleco Ignored Previous Warnings
SK Teleco had previously been alerted by the Industry Traceback Group about illegal robocall traffic, but allegedly failed to respond or take corrective action. According to the FCC’s December order, the company attempted to reroute pre-recorded calls to other voice services in an apparent attempt to avoid detection.
This pattern of negligence and apparent deception triggered the FCC’s escalated enforcement response without negotiation or extended compliance periods.
Complete Network Disconnection Threatened
If SK Teleco fails compliance deadlines, the FCC will compel all other U.S. voice service providers to cease accepting their call traffic entirely. SK Teleco becomes disconnected from the American telecommunications infrastructureâunable to route any calls through U.S. phone networks.
According to Cord Cutters News, such a total network removal is extraordinarily rare, having been imposed only a handful of times in FCC history.
We Won’t Tolerate Blind Eye’ to Fraud
Scammers and thieves using phone networks to defraud consumers or steal personal data is illegal, according to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr in the December 2 enforcement order. Voice service providers must be part of the solution, Carr stated.
While most providers understand this responsibility, we won’t tolerate those that turn a blind eye and allow shady robocallers on their networks, he emphasized.
How to Spot and Stop Walmart Impersonation Scams
Legitimate Walmart never calls customers unsolicited to confirm orders or discuss account activity. Immediate red flags include pressure tactics that emphasize urgency, requests for personal information over the phone, and offers that require secrecy.
According to Robokiller, these behavioral patterns appear across multiple Walmart-themed scams currently circulating. If contacted, hang up immediately.
Robocall Epidemic
Idaho Attorney General RaĂșl Labrador’s December 2025 Operation Robocall Roundup Phase 2 targets four major providersâInteliquent, Bandwidth, Lumen, and Peerlessâfor facilitating suspected illegal robocalls. Inteliquent alone allegedly routed 1.425 billion suspected illegal calls over three to four years.
The FBI reported $16.6 billion in online scam losses in 2024. Phone scams cost Americans an estimated $25.4 billion over the past year, according to research from 2025.
The Game-Changing Scam Technology
Artificial intelligence-generated voices represent a turning point in robocall fraud. Scammers no longer need dozens of live operators for initial outreachâartificial intelligence generates thousands of convincing calls simultaneously with natural-sounding voices.
SK Teleco appears to have developed or enabled AI-based robocall infrastructure on its network, suggesting that the company has positioned itself as a critical facilitator of fraud rather than an inadvertent participant.
Protection Steps for Walmart Shoppers
Never provide personal information in response to unsolicited phone calls. Check accounts directly through official websites or verified phone numbers from recent bills. Review your bank and credit card statements immediately if you suspect scammers have contacted you.
Contact the Federal Trade Commission and local law enforcement if your personal information has been compromised.
The 48-Hour Countdown
As of December 4, SK Teleco has approximately 46 hours to demonstrate complete cessation of AI-powered Walmart impersonation calls. Within 14 days, the company must implement permanent technical solutions to prevent recurrence.
Failure triggers automatic network disconnection. For other voice providers receiving FCC and state attorney general warnings, this action serves as a stark precedent: regulatory tolerance for fraud facilitation appears to be ending.
Sources:
Federal Communications Commission Walmart impersonation robocall enforcement order and public statements (including Chairman Brendan Carr)â
YouMail robocall analytics on Walmart pre-authorized PlayStation 5 scam volumeâ
Check Point Research brand phishing report identifying Walmart as most-imitated brand globally