Thursday,
January 26, 2012 (SAN DIEGO, CA) - Better Business Bureau is
warning businesses to beware of two new scams, both of which use the BBB name
to lure victims into clicking a link or providing access to their private,
personal information.
The first of these scams is in the form of malicious e-mail.
Though it is not the first phishing attack perpetrated against the BBB, this
attack has a different angle. Scammers, posing
as the BBB, have contacted Accredited Businesses asking for them to follow a
link to update their information.
PLEASE BE AWARE that the email, as shown below, is not
coming from the BBB. If you receive an email that is at all suspicious, please
do not click any links and forward it on to info@sandiego.bbb.org.
Good morning,
Many thanks for helping your Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Offering our service to BBB Accredited Businesses, we do our best to assure
that the information we provide to potential consumers is as exact as possible.
In order for us to provide the right data to the public, we request that you
verify the information that we have recorded for your company.
We encourage you to use our ONLINE FORM to provide us with this updated
information. Please use the following URL to access to this form on our
website:
http://app.alaskaoregonwe sternwashington.bbb.org/sbq
(UserID: 774435805536 Password: ZfBEu)
Many thanks again for your support, and we hope to hear back from you soon.
Kind regards,
Better Business Bureau
Accreditation Services
The second of these morning scams hits closer to home
as this phishing attack begins on the phone lines. Our office received
notification that a scam company, calling from phone number 858-102-3252, has been calling consumers and
businesses. These scammers assume
the BBB identity, and offer callers help in removing a virus from their
computer due to a phishing scam.
**UPDATE**
Due to a recent investigation, your BBB has discovered that the above phone
number has been disconnected. However, experience tells us that another phone
number will surface in time.
Once the victim has been convinced of the legitimacy of
the caller, these scammers install what they call better antiviral software for
their victims. This however, is yet
again an elaborate phishing scam.
If you are contacted over the phone by a suspicious or
unexpected person, hang up your phone.
Your BBB will not call you to remove a virus from your computer.
As a trusted brand, the BBB is often a target of scams
and attacks. Please rest assured that we are doing everything in our power, to
stop the culprits of this attack. Please
continue to send your scam emails to info@sandiego.bbb.org,
and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call your BBB at
858.496.2131.