Is the Costco Membership Scam real or a scam?

This is a confirmed scam. Do not click any links, do not provide personal information, and do not send money. This is a phishing scam that impersonates Costco.

What should I do if I received the Costco Membership Scam?

Do not respond or click any links. Block the sender, report the message as spam, and delete it. If it came via text message, forward it to 7726 (SPAM).

What if I already fell for the Costco Membership Scam?

Change your passwords immediately, contact your bank if you shared financial information, place a fraud alert on your credit, and file a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

How do I report the Costco Membership Scam?

Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov, and your local law enforcement. If it impersonated a specific company, report it to that company as well.

Costco Membership Scam: Is It a Scam?

Medium Prevalence Type: Phishing Impersonates: Costco

Yes, this is a scam. Do not click any links or provide personal information.

Scammers send fake Costco emails claiming your membership needs to be renewed or that you have won a prize for being a loyal member. Both versions lead to phishing sites that steal your personal and payment information.

How This Scam Works

You receive an email that appears to come from Costco, either saying your membership is expiring and needs immediate renewal, or congratulating you on winning a prize. The link goes to a professional-looking fake Costco page. For renewal scams, it asks for your membership number and credit card to 'renew.' For prize scams, you complete a survey and pay a small shipping fee. Both capture your credit card details and personal information for fraud.

Red Flags to Watch For

Sender email is not from costco.com
Unsolicited prize or reward notification
Link URL does not go to costco.com
Asks for credit card details to claim a prize
Costco sends renewal notices by mail, not urgent emails

Example Scam Messages

Subject: Action Required: Your Costco Membership Expires Tomorrow Dear Valued Member, Your Costco Executive Membership expires on 02/10/2026. Renew online now to keep your benefits and avoid interruption. Renew Now: costco-membership-renew.com/account --- Subject: Congratulations Costco Shopper! Claim Your Free Gift As a thank you for being a loyal Costco member, you have been selected to receive an exclusive Costco Anniversary Gift Set! Complete a short survey to claim: costco-rewards-survey.com/claim

What to Do If You Received This

Do not click links in the email
Renew your membership at costco.com or in-store only
Costco does not give away prizes via email surveys
Check your membership status at costco.com
Delete the email

What to Do If You Fell For It

Contact your bank to report the compromised card
Request a new credit card number
Change your Costco.com account password if you have one
Monitor your statements for unauthorized charges
Alert Costco member services at 1-800-774-2678

How to Report This Scam

Forward phishing emails to Costco at [email protected]
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
File a complaint with FBI IC3 at ic3.gov
Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM)

Last updated: February 10, 2026

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