What Is the Target Scam?
Target scams involve criminals impersonating Target Corporation — one of America's largest retailers with over 1,900 stores and millions of Target Circle loyalty members — to steal payment card details, account credentials, and personal information from consumers. The most common attack vectors exploit Target's high brand recognition and consumer trust, using fake prize promotions, order confirmation phishing, and account security alerts to manipulate victims.
Target's massive customer base makes it a prime target for impersonation fraud. The FTC and cybersecurity researchers consistently rank major US retailers among the most impersonated brands in phishing campaigns. Scams targeting Target customers peak during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, the holiday shopping season, and annual Target Circle promotional events.
How Target Retail Scams Work
The most widespread variant is the fake Target gift card survey. Recipients receive a text or email claiming they have been selected to receive a $100 or $200 Target gift card in exchange for completing a short survey. The final step requires paying a small "shipping and handling fee" via credit card — which is actually a subscription trap that charges $50–$100 monthly. See also: gift card scams and subscription trap scams.
Account phishing is the second major vector. Emails claiming there is a security issue with the recipient's Target Circle account direct them to a spoofed Target login page that harvests credentials. Attackers use these credentials to redeem Target Circle points, place fraudulent orders for gift cards, or access saved payment methods. Related: credit card phishing guide.
Common Target Scam Messages
- "Congratulations! You've been selected as a Target loyalty member to receive a $200 gift card. Complete survey: [link]"
- "TARGET SECURITY ALERT: Unusual activity detected on your Target Circle account. Verify identity within 24 hours: [link]"
- "Target Order Confirmation: Your order #TGT-88293 for $347.99 has been placed. Click to cancel if not you: [link]"
- "Target: Your RedCard payment failed. Update billing details to avoid account suspension: [link]"
- "Final reminder: Your 40% off Target promo code expires tonight. Claim before midnight: [link]"
Target Scam Examples
Gift card survey trap: A consumer receives a Facebook ad claiming Target is giving away $200 gift cards. After completing a survey, they pay $4.95 "shipping" — unknowingly authorizing a recurring $89.95/month subscription charge.
Fake order alert phishing: An email claiming an expensive Target order was placed in the victim's name — containing a "cancel order" link — leads to a fake Target login page. Credentials are harvested and used to redeem thousands of Target Circle points for gift cards.
RedCard phishing: Emails targeting Target RedCard holders claim a payment failed and request login to update billing information, capturing card details linked to the RedCard account.
Counterfeit Target merchandise: Social media ads for deeply discounted Target merchandise lead to clone sites that collect payment but deliver counterfeit goods or nothing at all.
Warning Signs of a Fake Target Message
- 1)Survey or promotion claiming you won a gift card, requiring any payment to claim
- 2)Email sender domain is not @target.com (e.g., target-rewards.net, targetcircle.info)
- 3)Order confirmation for a purchase you did not make — containing a "cancel" link
- 4)Urgent deadline — "expires tonight" or "respond within 24 hours"
- 5)Link URL does not match target.com when previewed
- 6)Request to verify account credentials by clicking an email link
- 7)Too-good-to-be-true discounts (80–90% off popular products)
- 8)Generic greeting ("Dear Target Customer") rather than your name
What To Do If You Receive a Suspicious Target Message
Do not click any links. For account security concerns, go directly to target.comin a fresh browser tab and log into your Target Circle account. For order questions, use Target's official customer service at 1-800-440-0680. Target will never ask you to pay a fee or verify your login via an unsolicited email link.
If you entered credentials or payment details, go to target.com immediately and change your password. Contact your bank if payment card details were entered. Report the scam to target at guest.relations@target.com and to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
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Check NowFrequently Asked Questions
Is the Target gift card survey email I received real?
No. Target does not send unsolicited emails or texts offering free gift cards in exchange for completing a survey and paying a small shipping fee. These are gift card phishing scams. Any offer requiring payment to receive a Target reward is fraudulent.
Did Target send me an email about an account security issue?
Scammers frequently send fake Target account security alerts. Real Target communications come from @target.com email addresses. Never click a link in an unexpected security alert — go directly to target.com and log in to check your account status.
I clicked a fake Target link and entered my login. What should I do?
Go immediately to target.com and change your Target Circle account password. If the same password is used elsewhere, change those too. Enable two-factor authentication. Monitor for unauthorized orders or Target Circle point redemptions.
How do I report a Target scam email or text?
Forward suspicious Target emails to guest.relations@target.com. Report phishing to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM). You can also report to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
Can ScamShield Check detect a fake Target message?
Yes. Paste any suspicious Target promotion, order confirmation, or account alert into ScamShield Check. The AI identifies retail phishing patterns, fake prize language, and urgency tactics — providing an instant free risk assessment.