Did you open a fishy-looking email from Costco? You're not alone.
If You Get a Costco Scam Email, You Need to Do This Immediately
Published on Apr. 30, 2025
Every day, phishers send about 3.4 billion scam emails. Because people trust Costco and want to save even more money while shopping, it’s only natural for phishers to pose as this beloved brand.
The goal of phishing emails is to lure you into clicking on a link, leading you to a site containing malware, or trick you into entering personal information. Here’s what to do if you get a Costco scam email—and how to know it’s definitely spam.
What to Do If You Get a Costco Scam Email
First, and most important: Do not click on any links in a spam email! Don’t open or download any attachments. And don’t reply to the email, either, even if you’re tempted to scold the person who sent it. Replying to phishing emails only lets the scammers know that your email is active and ensures that you stay on their mailing list.
Next, report the spam to Costco. The store keeps a list of currently known scams, and if you alert them to a new one, you can help warn other consumers.
Finally, mark the email as spam. This helps your email filter junk emails more effectively. Last but not least, delete the email so you don’t accidentally click the link later.
What do Costco email scams look like?
Like many email scams, the fake Costco emails just feel off. The email might look sloppy, with unpolished graphics or no logos. Look for typos and grammatical errors, which are red flags that the email didn’t pass through the careful editors or a marketing department. Scams often include odd salutations, such as using excessive honorifics (such as Mr. and Ms.) in subject lines.
Always read the “From:” field. Scammers often misspell company names (even by a single letter) or add extra words to the brand name. You may see that a third party sent the email, such as “Costco via BigBuckSavers.” Those are clear signs that the email isn’t authentic.
The biggest red flag of all? Any request for personal information or financial information. Scammers are out to get something from you, so their emails often ask for passwords, identifying information, credit card numbers and more.
They’ll frequently try to alarm you, implying that there’s an urgent issue with your account. Or, they’ll take the opposite approach and hold out a carrot—a free item, or a prize—if you just click on the link. That’s not a good way to save money at the store! Take your time reading emails, and you’ll sharpen your sniff test for spam.
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