This is a scam.  These scam artist like to use reputable companies names like the BBB to gain your trust.  Every state  has several BBB's and the Council Of BBB's in located in: Council of Better Business Bureaus
3033 Wilson Blvd, Suite 600
Arlington, VA 22201

I received the email, but it just seemed wrong to me (I do not  own a BBB accredited business) so I did some research.  The real BBB is aware of the scam and lists this email (phishing@council.bbb.org) to send the fraudulent email to.  I did it and got an auto response back.  I choose not to forward the fraudulent email just in case it was harmful to my computer.  I just copied it and pasted into a new email.  Hope this helps everyone.

Just got mine with a number of misspelled words and punctuation errors.  Do not open the link!!!!

Today is 1/9/2013

This group is still in full force.  Just received an e-mail and will delete.  Thanks for letting everyone know it is a scam.  These people are scum.

I just received the same email on my HOTMAIL account..

I got this email on my blackberry this morning Nov 07, 2012 , saying that I had a complaint from oneof my business customers. The only problem is that I don't have a business. Thank God my blackberry would not open it.
The email was title "The Better Business Bureau" as if it was official.

The number listed above was attached, requesting that I call for more information.

BBB Warns Businesses about Fake Emails from 'BBB'

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The BBB's name and logo have been used in waves of phishing emails since last year. The scammers have sent, and are continuing to send, millions of emails out claiming to be from the 'BBB'.

The emails look real because they contain the BBB's logo.

Many businesses, locally and across the country, report receiving emails from the fake BBB with a link or an attachment that includes a complaint to be reviewed, or the emails state that the BBB needs additonal information on the business.

The email instructs the business to open the attachment or click on a link to review the complaint and respond to it, or to provide the information that the BBB needs.

The primary red flags in the emails are:

· The web address for the link in the email does not contain the BBB's domain name - ___.bbb.org

· The grammar in the email is worded awkwardly.

· The address in the email is not from the local BBB that serves their area.

If you receive similar emails, the BBB has this advice:

· Do not open any attachments or click on any links in the email because you could download a virus. Instead, forward the email to phishing@council.bbb.org so that the BBB can investigate its origin.

· Delete the email from your inbox and your junk mail and deleted items folders.

· Run your anti-virus software to scan your computer system for viruses that the email may have planted in your computer to find bank account and credit card information.

· Review your bank accounts and credit card statements frequently to check for unauthorized charges.

?We?ve heard from dozens of businesses in the Charlotte area that have received these emails,? said BBB President Tom Bartholomy. ?These businesses were suspicious of the emails and deleted them.?

?Now, the BBB is encouraging anyone who receives these emails to run their anti-virus software to scan their computer system for viruses.?

For more information, please call the BBB at (704) 927-8611 or visit www.bbb.org.

http://charlotte.bbb.org/article/bbb-warns-bu ... -from-bbb-31206

I received an email with the same thing saying a complaint has been filed with the BBB. The dangerous part of the email was an imbedded link (I didn't open and neither should you) as well as an attached zip file (which could be extremely dangerous). Never click on anything in these emails or try and open an attachment. I think the phone number is legit for the BBB, but they have nothing to do with them and they want you to open the attachment or click on the link.

Got the same email.  Tried to open the attachment.  It is a virus Suspicion w32Malware. My virus protection got rid of it.  I am in Canada and have no business at all.

They are NOT the BBB as we know it.  The real  BBB corp office is located  at 240 Emery Street, Bethleham, PA 18015.   And their real # is in area code 202 to answer a complaint.  Also their e-mail address to receive a notice of complaint is RMSA@noreply.org.

I know this because I work A/R for a large company and use their services every day, and have been for 18 years!

This is likely a virus within the attachment.  Do not open.  Just permenantly delete it immediately.

I got this as an email does anyone know anything about it i am sure it is some sort of scam cause i don't have a business for them to have a complaint about.  i did not open it cause it could be some sort malware.

I received the same email, pretending to be the BBB. I'm not even sure why I thought it was a scam, looked legit. Thanks for posting about this scam!

Here is a copy of the fraudulent email being sent:  It looks very legitimate...

There is an email attachment that comes with it.  DO NOT OPEN ANY ATTACHMENTS...


Sorry, your e-mail does not support HTML format. Your messages can be viewed in your browser
Better Business Bureau©
Start With Trust©
Thu, 25 Oct 2012
RE: Case #6965981127
Hello,
The Better Business Bureau has been filed the above mentioned complaint from one of your customers in respect of their business relations with you. The details of the consumer's concern are contained in enclosed document. Please give attention to this issue and inform us about your opinion as soon as possible. We kindly ask you to open the COMPLAINT REPORT (attached to this email) to reply on this complaint.
We are looking forward to your prompt response.
Faithfully yours,
Pat Fuller
Dispute Counselor
Better Business Bureau
Better Business Bureau
3033  Wilson Blvd, Suite 600  Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: 1 (703) 276.0100  Fax: 1 (703) 525.8277

RE: Case #XXXXXXXX001


Hello,

The Better Business Bureau has been filed the above mentioned complaint from one of your customers in respect of their business relations with you. The details of the consumer's concern are contained in enclosed document. Please give attention to this issue and inform us about your opinion as soon as possible. We kindly ask you to open the COMPLAINT REPORT (attached to this email) to reply on this complaint.

We are looking forward to your prompt response.

Faithfully yours,
Tim Hogan
Dispute Counselor
Better Business Bureau


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I got this e-mail this week. I too, have no business ventures and certainly do not have any problem with check writing scams.  I looked up the BBB in Va with the listed zip code.  The complaint link on the BBB website actually says to click on the link that was sent in an e-mail, so they must actually use e-mail as a viable communication source.  These scammers sure do go to great lengths to trick people.

I have received several emails from this fake BBB in the last few weeks on my aol account. On two of them, the sender's name is: Bonifacy Gilbody-never opened any of them nor tried to contact them in any way. I just typed in the number on 1800 notes, and all the posts above came up. Obviously a scam!!!

Thank you for the confirmation, I received the mail this morning. In the first place I have no business ventures and second place, with all the viruses that exist, why would the real better business bureau send an attachment to be downloaded lol...what fools they must think we are

I guess using a legitimate outfit like BBB would get some people to open the attachment. Think before you open anything in an email people! If no one opens them they will go away eventually.

THESE PEOPLE CALL ME AT LEAST 5 TIMES A DAY ASKING FOR SOMEONE NAMED CANDICE. I TOLD THEM TO REMOVE THE NUMBER BECAUSE I DONT KNOW THAT PERSON AND TO MY SHOCK THEY SAID F*** YOU AND HUNG UP. THE NEXT TIME I ANSWERED I ASKED FOR A SUPERVISOR THE GUY SAID HE WAS A SUPERVISOR AND THEN HU BEFORE I COULD EVEN TALK. I KNOW ITS A SCAM BUT I CANT GET THEM TO STOP CALLING. WHEN I TRY TO CALL BACK THE NUMBER DOESNT GO THROUGH. IM SO TIRED OF IT

I got the same email today. Yesterday I received a very similar scam email, only it was supposedly from the SEC. Deleted both ASAP.

I got an e-mail today 02-29-12 showing a complaint ID # and the same message of a complaint from one of my customers related to their dealership with me. I'm a individual so this triggered me to not open it. I googled Council of Better Business Bureaus and they came up as on Wilson Blvd in Arlington, VA but its a different address then this e-mail also showing on Wilson Blvd but the number is slightly different.

This email showed up today in Saskatchewan, glad I checked online first!! Thanks for posting!

Scumbags are still active.  I received the following today, 2-28-2012:

Valued small business owner, we have obtained several complaints about your company possible participation in identity theft. You are asked to provide response to this complaint within 7 days. Failure to transmit the necessary feedback will result in cancellation your Better Business Bureau rating and possible cancellation of your BBB accreditation status.

  Complaint ID #1708367
Council of Better Business Bureaus
3033 Wilson Blvd, Suite 600
Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: 1 (703) 276.0100
Fax: 1 (703) 525.8277

T7

Yeah, SCAM! Glad I read these reports. I got this email yesterday (on a Sunday) with a link and an attachment. Deleting now...

Attn: Owner/Manager

Here with the Better Business Bureau would like to inform you that we have been filed a complaint (ID 99466618) from a customer of yours related to their dealership with you.

Please open the COMPLAINT REPORT below to view the details on this question and let us know of your position as soon as possible.

We hope to hear from you shortly.

Faithfully,

Nita Aracely

Dispute Counselor
Better Business Bureau
Phone: 1 (703) 276.0100
Fax: 1 (703) 525.8277

BBB is aware of this Virus Email - directly from the BBB site:
Better Business Bureau is issuing an urgent SCAM alert cautioning businesses and consumers about an email that is purporting to be from a bbb.org email address about a recently filed complaint. The email contains a dangerous attachment regarding a complaint and appears to direct recipients to the BBB website. This is a scam ? BBB does not send complaints as attachments via email.

The email appears to come from a fakeBBBemployee claiming that the recipient needs to review this matter and advise the BBB of their position. From there, the email appears to direct the recipient to the BBB website, but actually directs them to an outside link. This email is fraudulent and does not originate from BBB. The email attachment and link are malicious and we are strongly advising to not open or click them.

Should you receive such an email, please disregard its message, and report any information received to BBB?s Scam Portal, and then delete it.  If you have clicked on the link, immediately do a virus scan.

I checked information the phone number does belong to the BBB.  Someone has either hacked into their files or they are abusing the BBB by sending out this malicious email.  My spam fighter caught it - I viewed the source of the message...came from some .org email.  Not the BBB.  Here is the message I received:
Good afternoon,Here with the Better Business Bureau informs you that we have been sent a complaint (ID 62001754) from one of your customers related to their dealership with you.Please open the COMPLAINT REPORT below to view the details  on this question and inform us about your point of view as soon as possible.We hope to hear from you very soon.Regards,Arnold Melendez Dispute Counselor Better Business Bureau Council of Better Business Bureaus 4200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 800 Arlington, VA 22203-1838 Phone: 1 (703) 276.0100Fax: 1 (703) 525.8277

email just showed it's ugly face in n.c., today...

thanx for the info, i deleted, too

I just got the same email. its a scam. DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK provided with the email!

i live in canada so what the heck would bbb. in va. want with me and have no business dealings in u.s.

just got the same e-mail. i am in canada. have no dealings with any business in u.s. with anyone. this must be a scam or virus.