Wallingford, CT - February 17, 2012 - Consumers nationwide are reporting a new round of phishing email scams using the BBB name and email address, this time targeted at accountants.
This latest scam uses a BBB.org email address in conjunction with the American Institute of CPAs logo and name. The message informs recipients that their CPA license is being terminated due to tax fraud allegations and encourages them to click on a link and reply to the charges. The link leads to a third party website that downloads a virus on to the recipient’s computer.
This email scam primarily targets accountants, but BBB has gotten reports of other professionals receiving the emails. The image below is a sample email.
Steps to take:
- Do not reply or click on the link in the email
- Forward fake BBB emails to phishing@council.bbb.org
- Delete the email
This is the latest iteration in a recent outbreak of scams using the BBB name. For more information about other versions of the scam, please see the following articles:
###
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/.
