LEX18.com - Lexington, KY

Posted: Jul 28, 2010 1:36 PM
Updated: Jul 28, 2010 3:07 PM

The Better Business Bureau of Central & Eastern Kentucky is warning businesses NOT to click on links in e-mails reported in this area that appear to be about unanswered consumer complaints. These are scam e-mails that are NOT from any BBB office.

“These e-mails are not from our BBB,” said Neil Kingery, President & CEO of the BBB of Central & Eastern Kentucky. “In the past when the scam has surfaced, companies that clicked on the link to read the complaint ended up with viruses on their computers.”

The subject line reads “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 (and other names may be used) and includes a link to a page where the business can supposedly review the complaint.

There are several red flags indicating the e-mail is fake, Kingery said. “First, it appears to be from a BBB in another state.  Businesses in our service area would not receive complaints directly from other BBB’s,” Kingery said.  “And, the e-mail states it is from the Better Business Bureau of Consumer Protection Consumer Response Center.  There is no such place.  Also, in most cases, our BBB notifies businesses of complaints by U.S. Postal mail.  Our letters carry the name of a BBB team member handling the dispute and phone and fax numbers. On occasion we telephone a business.  If we do e-mail a business, a BBB team member’s name and contact information is in the e-mail.”

Because the message is fraudulent, BBB advises any business that receives this e-mail:

Do not click on any links or reply to the message,
Forward the message to phishing@council.bbb.org or to info@bluegrass.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.

Businesses with questions as to whether notice of a complaint is legitimate are urged to call the BBB at (859) 259-1008 or toll-free, 1-800-866-6668.