BBB Cautions Consumers of Bogus E-Mails

BBB (Better Business Bureau) is warning online shoppers of a new phishing campaign that uses the name of Better Business Bureau to appear as a credible scheme and thereby gather new customers through fake overtures.

States BBB that a company known as OverstockShop.biz was getting its business using scammy methods. It sent out e-mails, falsely saying that it was a member of BBB while it offered a protection program for free if a purchase for a maximum of $2,000 were made. However, the truth is that OverstockShop.biz is not a BBB member.

Meanwhile, the website, which pledged that it would provide unique merchant service as well as BBB verified support, has been taken offline. The site also displayed a notice that its business with BBB had an agreeable record.

Moreover, apart from flaunting non-existent products such as 'BBB Customer Support, Purchase Protection Program,' 'BBB Purchase Protection Program' and 'BBB Protection Program,' the e-mails tried to dupe users into believing that BBB authored them.

Commenting on such hoax e-mails, BBB said that spammers lifted BBB's logo from their website and copied it onto their own to give them an appearance of legitimacy. Further, it has been found in several instances that people purchased on shopping website Craigslist and became convinced of scam advertisements. Users who replied back to these advertisements received one of the hoax e-mails in question.

However, according to CEO Robert W.G. Andrew of BBB branch for Western Washington, Oregon and Alaska, BBB Accredited Companies are ethical and honest companies that serve with trustworthy business behavior. Salem.News published this on May 28, 2009.

Andrew said, fake businesses would frequently abuse BBB's name and make false claims that they have the official approval of BBB while trying to gain consumers' trust.

Additionally, BBB stated scammers also many-a-times claim association alternatively, abuse the reputation of government agencies, banks or other legitimate entities to deceive consumers.

Thus BBB has recommended that consumers maintain caution by checking the credibility of the companies with which they conduct transactions. Also, they must never fail to verify their BBB Reliability Report or call BBB to confirm a BBB Accreditation.

Related article: BBA Outlines Steps To Ward Off Online Fraud

» SPAMfighter News - 6/3/2009