The Better Business Bureau has named a phishing scam that cites the organization as the top scam of 2011.
Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of people have gotten e-mails that look like an official notice from the BBB. The subject line says something like "Complaint Against Your Business," and the instructions tell the recipient to either click on a link or open an attachment to get the details.
If the recipient does either, a malicious virus is launched on their computer. The virus that can steal banking information, passwords and other critical pieces of information needed for cyber-theft.
"BBB is working with security consultants and federal law enforcement to track down the source of these e-mails, and has already shut down dozens of hijacked Web sites. Anyone who has opened an attachment or clicked on a link should run a complete system scan using reputable anti-virus software."
It's almost impossible to avoid seeing a phishing scam if you have a telephone or an e-mail account.
"The most pernicious phishing scam this year disguised itself as official communication from NACHA - the National Automated Clearing House Association - which facilitates the secure transfer of billions of electronic transactions every year," according to the BBB. "The e-mail claims one of your transactions did not go through, and it hopes you react quickly and click on the link before thinking it through. It may take you to a fake banking site 'verify' your account information, or it may download malware to infiltrate your computer."
Some other top category-specific scams include:
Top Financial Scam
Many people are looking for help getting out of debt or hanging on to their home, and almost as many scammers appear to take advantage of desperate situations. Because the federal government announced or expanded several mortgage relief programs this year, all kinds of sound-alike websites have popped up to try to fool consumers into parting with their money.
Some sound like a government agency, or even part of BBB or other nonprofit consumer organization. Most ask for an upfront fee to help you deal with your mortgage company or the government (services you could easily do yourself for free), and almost all leave you in more debt than when you started.
Top Check Cashing Scam
Two legitimate companies - Craig's List and Western Union - are used for an inordinate amount of scamming these days, and especially check cashing scams.
Here's how it works: Someone contacts you via a Craig's List posting, maybe for a legitimate reason like buying your old couch or perhaps through a scam like hiring you as a secret shopper. Either way, they send you a check for more than the amount they owe you, and they ask you to deposit it into your bank account and then send them the difference via Western Union.
A deposited check takes a couple of days to clear, whereas wired money is gone instantly. When the original check bounces, you are out whatever money you wired...and you're still stuck with the old couch.
Top Identity Theft Scam
This one has gotten so prevalent that many hotels are posting warnings in their lobby. Here's how it works: You get a call in your hotel room in the middle of the night. It's the front desk clerk, very apologetic, saying their computer has crashed and they need to get your credit card number again, or they must have gotten the number wrong because the transaction won't go through, and could you please read the number back so they can fix the problem?
Scammers are counting on you being too sleepy to catch on that the call isn't from the hotel at all, but from someone outside who knows the direct-dial numbers for the guest rooms. By the time morning rolls around and you are clear-headed, your credit card has been on a major shopping spree.
