BBB Warns about Fake Electronic Mails Asking for Rating Verification

The Southern Arizona BBB (Better Business Bureau) is cautioning both consumers and businesses of the most recent e-mail scam which's posing as a communication from BBB, published The Voice of Tucson in news on August 18, 2011.

Using an address that spoofs BBB i.e. BBBupdate@post.com within the metropolis of Atlanta, Georgia, the e-mail pretends to ask for BBB ratings validation and verification. Essentially, it states that the bureau's data reveals one rating that's yet to be done alternatively one review of the e-mail recipient else his business. Adverse ratings or reviews is likely to effect the user's business profile, which customers, agencies, vendors and clients can see for good. Therefore, the recipient must get in touch with the BBB's notification department to validate and verify the given alert, the e-mail concludes.

Now owing to this scam, the Council of BBBs, the national agency on behalf of 122 member BBBs across USA along with 200 country business associates is investigating for tracking the perpetrator as well as preparing to adopt every suitable measure for safeguarding its brand name, the bureau declared.

Meanwhile, President and CEO Melanie Duquesnel of Eastern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula's BBB said that the bureau was aggressively interacting with consumers and businesses every moment. However, it didn't carry out review verification or pending ratings. When something associated with a particular deal cropped up, the bureau directly talked to the business proprietor instead of via any survey, Duquesnel added. DBusinessNews published this on August 18, 2011.

Also, following the fake e-mail campaign, BBB began reiterating to all consumers as well as businesses that it wasn't carrying out a verification enquiry just like it wasn't dispatching electronic mails after receiving any pending rating alternatively any user's or his business' review.

Moreover, similar to the current scam, BBB, during July 2011, was hit with another one when over 8,900 complaints were reported to the agency about fraudulent e-mails. Nonetheless, BBB urged end-users that if such e-mails landed into their inboxes they must ignore them, while inform the bureau's Scam Portal about the incident alternatively directly call BBB and tell it about the fraud.

Related article: BBA Outlines Steps To Ward Off Online Fraud

» SPAMfighter News - 8/27/2011