Phishing Campaigns Hitting Accountants’ Inboxes, Says BBB

Consumers across the U.S. are complaining about one fresh outbreak of phishing campaigns wherein fraudulent e-mails are utilizing the name, e-mail id and logo of BBB, this time trying to victimize members of AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants), published Arkansas.bbb.org dated February 17, 2012.

It maybe noted that AICPA represents an organization at the USA's national level for professional or Certified Public Accountants, in short CPA.

Displaying an alarming caption, "Termination of CPA license due to tax return fraud allegations," the phishing electronic mail, addressing the recipient as 'valued accountant official,' tells him that BBB has become aware of his potential help in fraudulent dealings with income tax re-imbursement for a client of his. Therefore, if he files wrong alternatively, spurious IT returns for his client then his CPA license maybe annulled under the AICPA Bylaw Subsection 765. The e-mail then requests him to read the complaint's details given underneath the message followed with sending his feedback in 7-days. Incase the clarifications are not made within the stipulated time then his Accountant license will be terminated, the e-mail warns.

Thereafter the electronic mail directs the user that he requires taking down a PDF file named "Complaint.pdf." But following its web-link diverts the user onto a different site that pulls down Blackhole, a well-known attack toolkit onto the victim's PC.

Worryingly, there are other e-mail scams too which BBB has noticed very recently.

One of the related e-mails, addressing the recipient as accountant officer, tells him that the agency has been informed about his probable role in fraudulent operations related to IT returns for his client. Thus, if he's found to submit a fake or misguided IT return for his employer alternatively client then his CPA status will get revoked under the AICPA Bylaw Section 700. Thereafter, the e-mail requests the recipient to read the given complaint as also answer in 14-days failing which his Accountant status will be withdrawn, the e-mail ends.

Conclusively, consumers are urged for adopting certain measures like not clicking web-links or answering them within such e-mails, and sending fraudulent BBB electronic messages to phishing@council.bbb.org before erasing them wholly.

Related article: Phishing With A Redirector Code

» SPAMfighter News - 2/27/2012