A new "phishing" scam
using the BBB name has appeared in several places around the country. We want
you to be aware of it in order not to fall victim to it. The scam e-mail claims
that the BBB has received a complaint about your business and asks you to click
on a link to access information and respond. We show you below how to tell the
bogus complaint letter from a real one.
Several
businesses across the US - including law firms, advertising agencies and
architecture firms - have reported receiving a suspicious e-mail from the
address seatac@bbb.org with the subject line
"BBB Complaint Case #" followed by a nine-digit number. Both BBB
Accredited and non-Accredited businesses have been targeted.
The body
of the e-mail claims that the company did not respond to a complaint filed by a
Jason Harlow (other names may be used) and includes a link to a page at www.wa-bbb.org where the
business can supposedly review the complaint.
Because
the message is fraudulent, BBB advises any business that receives this e-mail
to take the following steps:
- Do not
click on any links or reply to the message,
- Run a full virus scan on your
computer if you did click on any links, and
- Completely delete the message from
your inbox.
If you
receive an e-mail from Better Business Bureau about a complaint filed against
your business and need assistance in determining whether or not it is
legitimate, contact the BBB Special Assistance Hotline at (212) 358-2830.
For more
advice on how to protect your business from malicious online attacks visit www.bbb.org/data-security/.
A copy of
the actual e-mail follows:
BBB CASE #812091498
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Complaint filed by:
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Jason Harlow
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Complaint filed
against:
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Business Name:
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Tichenor and Associates LLP
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Contact:
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William Tichenor
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BBB Member:
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YES
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Complaint status:
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Open
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Category:
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Contract Issues
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Case opened date:
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07/23/2010
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Case closed date:
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Pending
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Please
click here to access the complaint
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On July 23 2010, the consumer provided the following information: (The
consumer indicated he/she DID NOT received any response from the business.)
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The form you used to register this complaint is designed to improve public
access to the Better Business Bureau of Consumer Protection Consumer Response
Center, and is voluntary. Through this form, consumers may electronically
register a complaint with the BBB.Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, as
amended, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently
valid OMB control number. That number is 203-683.
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