Costco Email Scam: Did you receive an Email claiming Your membership has expired

Have You Received a Scam Email?
claiming to be from Costco, claiming Your membership has expired

Did you receive an email claiming to be from Costco, claiming Your membership has expired? Did they then instruct you to review membership status, Click here please, Answer Survey or something similar?

Well, don't fall for it.  It is a scam, and if you call them back or follow their instructions you will lose money and possibly your identity!

It is a fairly realistic looking scam. The scammers are getting better at stealing images from the real websites to make their fake emails look genuine.  The most obvious proof that it is a scam is found by hovering your mouse over (or right clicking on) the return email address of the link they want you to click. It goes to a website which is clearly NOT https://www.costco.com

When you do this, you see that the email and website has nothing to do with the real company (Costco) but in this case goes to  http://www.outlethere.com" which is probably spoofed, hacked  or redirected.

The people behind this are the worst kind of human scum; willing to do anything to scare, threaten, lie, cheat and steal money from anyone, including the elderly and poor. They usually operate out of Nigeria, China, Russia and even some developed western countries. Attachments typically include malware to infect your computer, tablet or phone and allow the scammer to capture your passwords.

1. Report received, 2026:

   Subject:	Your Costco membership has expired
   Date:	Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:05:23 -0400
   From:	COS Member <cosmember@outlethere.com>
   Reply-To:	cosmember@outlethere.com
   To:	<your email addres>

   
   
   

   I meant to reply sooner, but the week moved faster than I expected.
   I tried that route yesterday afternoon and it was actually calmer than usual, so I think the timing helped more than anything.
   If you go earlier, you should avoid the heavier crowds near the entrance and have an easier time finding a quiet spot.
   I also remembered what you asked about bringing something along, and I would keep it simple because carrying extra things gets annoying fast.
   I usually wear layers since the air changes a lot between morning and late afternoon.
   If the weather shifts, a light jacket is enough and you can always tuck it away later.
   Also, I wouldn't overthink the plan too much because the best part is usually wandering a little and seeing where the day goes.
   Let me know when you decide, and if it lines up I can meet you there for a bit and help you get settled.

   COSTCO WHOLESALE Membership Notice Your membership has expired. Keep access moving forward with a 90-day extension available through our loyalty program. This update is intended to help eligible members continue shopping benefits without interruption while reviewing membership details. Continue the value you use most A membership lapse can interrupt in-warehouse and online access. If your account qualifies, the loyalty extension allows extra time to continue membership benefits for 90 days. • Helps maintain your member access path • Designed as a straightforward loyalty-based option • Review status and next steps in one place Membership Status Overview Current status Expired Loyalty extension window Up to 90 days Recommended action Review and continue eligibility Loyalty Program Extension 90 days An added continuation period created to help eligible members stay connected to Costco access and account benefits. If you plan to continue using your membership, review the account details now to see whether the extension can be applied and to avoid a longer interruption in access. Review Membership Status This is a membership-related notification from Costco Wholesale. Costco Wholesale Member Services Update Please review your most current membership information through the secure account page.

   I finally got around to sorting that stack of notes on my desk, and it turned out to be easier once I stopped trying to organize everything perfectly.
   I made three simple groups and dealt with each one separately, which kept me from getting distracted halfway through.
   The odd thing is that I had been avoiding it for days, but once I started, it took far less effort than I expected.
   I also found the list you mentioned, so yes, it was tucked under the notebook the whole time.
   Today feels a lot calmer because of that small win, and I think that's why I keep returning to short, simple routines when everything feels noisy.
   If you're still planning to tackle your weekend project, I would break it into tiny steps and leave the hardest part for after you've picked up some momentum.
   That approach usually keeps me from stalling before I begin.

    

Information About Costco Scam Email, claiming Your membership has expired

There are several websites that focus on reports of scam Emails.

The links below go to pages on these other websites were you can read reports about the scams associated with this email addressCostco Scam Email, claiming Your membership has expired):

• Microsoft Safety and Security Center
• Microsoft Community - Windows Support Scam - I was called by someone who said they were windows support and my computer was sending them warnings and messages!
• ARS Technica

It is a scam

Don't fall for it.  It is a scam.

What to do

Just ignore it and delete the email. Do not click on anything in the email.

Apple offers the following advice:

If you get a suspicious Email:
Scammers spoof phone numbers and use flattery and threats to pressure you into giving them information, money, and even iTunes gift cards. Always verify the caller's identity before you provide any personal information. If you get an unsolicited call from someone claiming to be from Apple, hang up and contact us directly.

Microsoft says:

Tech support scams are an industry-wide issue where scammers use scare tactics to trick you into paying for unnecessary technical support services that supposedly fix contrived device, platform, or software problems.
Scammers may call you directly on your phone and pretend to be representatives of a software company. They might even spoof the caller ID so that it displays a legitimate support phone number from a trusted company. They can then ask you to install applications that give them remote access to your device. Using remote access, these experienced scammers can misrepresent normal system output as signs of problems.

Cybercriminals don't just send fraudulent email messages and set up fake websites. They might also call you on the telephone and claim to be from Microsoft. They might offer to help solve your computer problems or sell you a software license. Once they have access to your computer, they can do the following:

Trick you into installing malicious software that could capture sensitive data, such as online banking user names and passwords. They might also then charge you to remove this software.

More information

There are several websites that focus on reports of scam Emails.

The links below go to pages on these other websites were you can read reports about the scams associated with this phone number (855-687-1444, claiming This is Microsoft. This call is to inform you that your Microsoft license key has expired):

• Microsoft Safety and Security Center
• Microsoft Community - Windows Support Scam - I was called by someone who said they were windows support and my computer was sending them warnings and messages!
• ARS Technica

Related Scams

There are a number of common telephone scams, such as:

• Collect Call scams
• Inmate collect call scams
• Phone service is about to be cut off
• Telemarketers

and some new and as yet, uncommon scams.

Information About Specific Phone numbers

There are several websites that focus on reports of scam Emails. See these:

• 1800Notes
• WhoCalled.us
• WhoCallsMe.com