Released: February 14, 2007

E-mail scam targets BBB name

Source: Annys Shin, Washington Post (Free Registration)

The Better Business Bureau network was the target of a “spoofing” scam yesterday in which thousands of businesses in the United States and Canada received e-mails encouraging them to download what is thought to be a computer virus.

The e-mails, using the name of the 95-year-old network of nonprofit groups that looks into consumer complaints, told businesses that they were the subject of a complaint and included a link to view related documents. Clicking on the link, however, accessed the address book of an infected computer and distributed the counterfeit e-mail to more recipients, said Steve Cox, spokesman for the Council of Better Business Bureaus.

The council is the umbrella group for the system’s 129 local branches, which are funded by member businesses. BBB members and nonmembers received the e-mail.

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