BBB is warning businesses about a phishing scheme that spoofs a BBB complaint. These e-mail messages are not coming from any entity connected to the BBB system. This scam has been around for a while but it's resurfaced.
The subject line reads “BBB Complaint Case #” followed by a nine-digit number. Both BBB Accredited Businesses and non-accredited businesses have been targeted. Beware of fake complaint reports coming from seatac@bbb.org.
The body of the e-mail claims that the company did not respond to a complaint filed by a Jason Harlow (however other names may be used) and includes a link to a page at www.ca-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,
- Forward the message to phishing@council.bbb.org,
- Completely delete the message from your inbox, and
- Run a full virus scan on your computer if you did click on any links.
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 Hawaii's BBB.
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