Better Business Bureau warns of scam using the group's name

A widely circulating email that appears to be coming from the Better Business Bureau is a fake intended to dupe recipients and has a "dangerous attachment," the BBB said today.

"This is a scam," the group said in an alert. "BBB does not send complaints as attachments via email."

The BBB said the email appears to be coming from someone who works there and asks that the person receiving the email review material and let the BBB know their response. The recipient is then directed to what appears to be the BBB's site, but actually goes elsewhere.

"This email is fraudulent and does not originate from BBB," the alert said. "The email attachment and link are malicious and we are strongly advising to not open or click them."

If you receive the email, you are asked to delete it.

The text of the phony email is below:

The Better Business Bureau has received the above-referenced complaint from one of your customers regarding their dealings with you.
The details of the consumer's concern are included on the reverse.
Please review this matter and advise us of your position.
As a neutral third party, the Better Business Bureau can help to resolve the matter. Often complaints are a result of misunderstandings a company wants to know about and correct.
We encourage you to use our ONLINE COMPLAINT system to respond this complaint.

The following URL (website address) below will take you directly to this complaint and you will be able to enter your response directly on our website:

The link says bbb.org, but goes elsewhere.