Costco does not have a Chinese customer service hotline, it is a scam and the fake ones are fake

Recently, Miss Shen, a resident of Montebello, received a series of phone calls that appeared to be from Costco. The caller claimed to be a Chinese customer service representative for the company. However, upon verification with genuine Costco customer service, it was established that Costco does not have a Chinese customer service line, confirming the calls were indeed a scam.

When Miss Shen first answered, she clarified that she was not a Costco member and immediately suspected a scam, promptly hanging up. Nevertheless, the caller persisted and called back, identifying Miss Shen by name and providing her previous address. They claimed there was an issue with an order dated October 5 and offered to assist her in resolving a delivery problem.

Despite Miss Shen repeatedly asserting that she had never placed an order and pointing out that the address provided was outdated, as well as the email address being incorrect, the caller insisted, “Our records show that you placed an order,” and pressed, “Are you sure this won’t affect you?” Once again, Miss Shen hung up.

Undeterred, the caller made a third attempt, repeating their claims. In frustration, Miss Shen switched to English to respond, after which the caller quickly ended the call and did not call back again.

That evening, Miss Shen received an email that appeared to be from Costco, containing a six-digit verification code. To confirm its authenticity, she called Costco’s customer service line (1-800-774-2678), where the representative verified that Costco does not offer a Chinese customer service hotline. They explained that such emails might be automatically generated when someone requests a password reset, advising her not to click on any links provided in the email.

Reflecting on her past, Miss Shen remembered that she had registered for an account on Costco’s website years ago, but had never become a member or made any purchases. Concerned that scammers might attempt to access her account using her email address, she promptly changed her account password.

Costco’s official website has outlined various common scams, including calls impersonating “Costco Chinese Membership Services.” Scammers often possess victims’ names, addresses, and phone numbers, trying to convince them that someone has opened an account in their name in China and fabricated claims of fraudulent activity involving that account, warning that police are now involved. They even provide services in Chinese to gain the victims’ trust and ensnare them in their trap.

Previously, reports have also surfaced regarding scams involving “Costco Chinese customer service,” where scammers not only ask consumers for their thoughts on Costco’s “new Chinese services” but also feign concern for their online shopping experiences. Readers are urged not to trust such “Chinese customer service” calls and to protect their personal information.