Follow these Basic Tips to
Avoid Malware and Phishing AttacksWallingford, CT - January 18, 2012 - An email scam using Better Business Bureau’s name and ‘Start With Trust’ tagline is flooding inboxes across the nation this morning. Emails purport to be from the Utah BBB and have a link that appears to be
www.bbb.org. THIS IS A SCAM.
Click here to see a PDF image of the complaint with links removed.Don’t be a victim; follow these basic tips to avoid malware and phishing attacks:
- Do NOT open any attachments.
- Do NOT click on any links, even if it looks legitimate.
- Delete the email from your inbox, and then delete it again from your trash or recycling folder.
- Run a full system scan using a reputable virus software scanner.
Chris Garver, Chief Information Officer at the Council of Better Business Bureaus, recommends that all domain owners set up a sender policy framework (SPF) and set their spam filter to use it. “Using the SPF standard helps fight spam and phishing attacks by allowing your email servers to verify whether an email is legitimate…or not,” he says.
Microsoft offers a simple, four-step process for setting up an SPF:
www.microsoft.com/mscorp/safety/content/technologies/senderid/wizard/.
If you receive an email saying your business has a complaint filed against it with BBB, there are several things you can do to authenticate it:
- Look for typos, grammatical errors, etc. in the text that could indicate it originated overseas.
- Check to see who it says it is from. Complaints go out from the local BBBs, not from the headquarters office.
- Hover your mouse over the link to see if its destination is really a bbb.org address.
- Copy and paste the link into Notepad (not Word). Notepad does not support html, so if the link is a fake bbb.org address, the real link will show up.
If you still are not sure, email
Connecticut Better Business Bureau to ask if you have a complaint (do not Reply to the email you received, or forward it to them). You also can call you BBB at 203-269-2700 to verify the legitimacy of a complaint.
Start With Trust and check with your local BBB if you receive something that seems fishy. Below is the exact text of this scam email:
Subject:
BBB case # 216145442347
To
the Urgent Attention of the Owner/ Manager!
Re:
Case # 216145442347
The
Better Business Bureau would like to inform you, that one of your clients has
recently forwarded us a complaint relative to their business relations with
you. Please use the link below to review the contents of the complaint: http://www.bbb.org/
In
order to save your time and good customer relations, we strongly recommend that
you provide the BBB with verification of your position regarding this case in
writing by January 31, 2012 . Failure to promptly pay attention to this matter
may have an influence on the Reliability Report we give to consumers about your
company.
We
are looking forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Larry
Kaye
Dispute
Counselor
snieves@utah.bbb.org
###
Founded in 1928, Connecticut BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. BBB helps consumers find and recommend businesses, brands and charities they can trust, offers objective advice and a wide range of education on topics affecting marketplace trust.
BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses. Today, 116 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than three million local and national businesses and charities. For more advice on finding companies and businesses, start your search with trust at www.bbb.org/.