Beware New E-mail Scam Requesting BBB Rating Verification
The Southfield-based Better Business Bureau of Eastern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula Thursday warned businesses and consumers about an e-mail purporting to come from BBB.
The e-mail appears to come from a phony BBB address (BBBupdate@post.com) in the Atlanta, Georgia metro area and falsely requests verification and validation of BBB Ratings.
The e-mail message reads: "Our data shows a pending rating or review about you or your business. Derogatory/Negative reviews or ratings can impact your business profile and become permanently visible to customers, clients, vendors, and agencies. CONTACT OUR NOTIFICATION DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY FOR VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION OF THIS ALERT."
The Council of Better Business Bureaus, the national organization representing 122 member Better Business Bureaus throughout the United States in addition to 200 national business partners, has their legal department investigating who is behind this and will take all appropriate action to protect its trademark.
"Your BBB is actively communicating with businesses and consumers all the time," said Melanie Duquesnel, president and CEO of the local BBB. "However, we do not conduct pending ratings or review verification surveys. If there is anything pertaining to a specific business, we directly communicate with the business owner rather than through a broad spectrum survey."
Should you receive such an e-mail, please disregard its message, and report any information received to the BBB's Scam Portal.
Your BBB does send e-mail correspondence in the form of newsletters, announcements and specific activity messaging for a particular business. If you are ever in doubt of the legitimacy of an e-mail from your BBB, call (248) 223-9400 or go to www.bbb.org/us/list-all-bbb-locations/ to find the BBB closest to you for more information.
