Retail Giant Mishandles Consumer Data: Walmart Spark Privacy Mess

Shopping at Walmart, whether in-store or online through their website, is convenient. You can find almost anything you want, often at a good price. But this convenience comes at a price. Because like many corporate giants, Walmart has a problem with data management.

The Walmart Spark Community app has had an issue that affected the privacy of its users. Affected users are encouraged to protect their accounts, warn others, and report the incident.

2025 is not a great year for business giants when it comes to data privacy. There was the Salesforce data breach, which affected Google services and users. In March, Amazon had an issue where user interactions with Alexa devices were recorded and automatically sent to Amazon (without a choice to opt out). Should we expect anything different from these data-hungry companies?

And now, Walmart joins the list, with yet another privacy issue.

The problem is with Walmart's Spark Community app—a platform where members can provide feedback to earn points or gift cards.

For at least two weeks, the app became inaccessible. Users received an error message when they tried to log in. And when the platform was restored, members started to experience technical issues—specifically that points or rewards were not reflected whenever they completed a task.

On October 13, 2025, a customer submitted a support ticket to address the issue. But from then onwards, she started receiving multiple responses from different representatives. Additionally, the responses were unrelated to the customer’s inquiry about the missing points. This has led to a misunderstanding of the issue.

Eventually, the missing points were credited to the customer's account. But still, she messaged the support team, urging for a more thorough review of the issue.

Then, on October 16th, the customer received seven more emails from Walmart. None of the emails was meant for her. Additionally, the emails were showing email addresses, personal inquiries, and information about other people. She immediately thought that it was a privacy risk. So, she reached out to the seven individuals, informing them of the issue.

Some of the customers responded to her email, thinking she was part of Walmart’s support team. This required more effort on her part to clarify the situation.

Unfortunately, most of the affected individuals were unaware of how serious the privacy lapse was. This alarmed the customer. So, she contacted Walmart again to raise the issue. However, the company gave her only a phone number that her lawyer can use. They did not acknowledge the issue nor offer a statement.

At the moment of this writing, Walmart hasn’t released a public statement regarding the issue. This is likely because not many are aware of or have reported the problem.

This is a problem because it raises significant concerns about data privacy. It makes you ask, “How is Walmart protecting user data?” Is it still safe to use the Walmart Spark Community App?”

There are also a few risks to consider, such as follows:

• Privacy Breach & Data Exposure: Imagine other people receiving your emails where you asked about a specific medication or a product you don’t want other people to know you’re using. Not only that, but other people can see your information and email address. This is a problem because if your information gets into the hands of the wrong people, you could become a target for scams or identity theft.
  
• Possible Systemic Security Weakness: This issue suggests that there’s an unnoticed flaw in Walmart’s data management and customer care systems. If these flaws remain unseen, it could become a weakness that hackers could exploit—putting user data at a greater risk.
  
• Poor Incident Response and Accountability: Having a poor incident response system and not addressing the core issue shows a lack of transparency and a violation of data protection regulations (e.g., state privacy laws, CCPA, FTC Act, and the GDPR). Consumers have the right to know what happened, who was affected, and what steps the company is taking to stop the recurrence.

Here are easy and effective things you can do in response to the Walmart Spark Community issue:

• Check for Exposure: See if you or others are affected by reviewing all recent emails from Walmart. Look for messages not meant for you and any accidentally shared personal information.
  
• Protect Your Account and Data: Make sure your account and data are protected. You can do this by changing your Spark Community app password—make sure it’s unique, with 16 characters and special characters. Also, avoid sharing more personal information until Walmart resolves the issue.
  
• Report the Incident: Don’t forget to contact Walmart directly using their official channels. The more people who file a report, the higher the chances that Walmart will notice the issue and take necessary steps for resolution. Also, file a report with the FTC or your state attorney general’s office.
  
• Warn Others: Let others know about what’s happening. Sometimes, people are not aware that they’ve been affected. Suggest that they secure their accounts and report the problem.

Overall, this Walmart Spark Community issue is another clear reminder that our data is never truly safe in the hands of big companies. And unfortunately, we can’t do much about it. We basically live by their rules. Often, we can’t buy things or use a service if we don’t hand over our data.

Your best defense is awareness. Reading this is a good start! You can also stay aware by watching the news or following us on our socials–where we post content about the latest scams, personal cybersecurity tips, and privacy.

How to verify if a Walmart seller is legitimate?

Legitimate sellers are Walmart itself or a trusted partner. Always check if the seller has a good track record. If the seller or the product has zero reviews, it's likely a scam.

Does Walmart call customers about orders?

Remember that Walmart employees won't call you just to confirm orders. If you're unsure about a caller claiming to be from Walmart, hang up. Then, verify the claims by contacting Walmart via its official customer service number.

How long do Walmart refunds take?

It depends on the payment method used. For credit cards, refunds are credited within 10 business days. For debit cards, it can take 7 days. If you used a Walmart Balance or a Walmart Gift Card, refunds can be credited within 3 hours.