BBB warning regarding Verizon scam

• Scam

submitted photo In this screen shot, the apparent amount due to Verizon exceeds $800. A prompter hovering over the link, however, has produced an URL that leads to a Website other than Verizon. This is generally a sign of a scam or virus of some kind, according to the BBB.

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WORTHINGTON — Verizon customers are receiving fake emails almost identical to the real alerts many customers get to remind them of monthly payments, according to the Better Business Bureau.

The phishing scam is notable for its detailed replication of Verizon emails, the BBB states, with the large bill amounts and links to a third party website the only tip-offs to the real nature of the messages.

Some of the bill amounts are upward of $500, which generally causes a customer to panic and click the link to find out more.

The easiest way to spot the fake emails is to hover over the ink with the mouse prompter.

The uniform resource locator (URL) on a fake email will lead to a third party site instead of the Verizon website. If a customer has questions about whether an email is valid of a fraud, he or she should contact Verizon directly.

In a Verizon document, the company states it does not send email notices asking for customer payment information, usernames or passwords used to manage accounts. It warns customers to watch for “spoof emails.”

“They fake the appearance of a popular website or company in an attempt to commit identity theft,” the document states. “Typically, the email tries to create a sense of urgency, requesting that recipients update or confirm their personal information. Links may be provided to a website that may also display the company logo.”

Some things to watch for, Verizon said, are generic greetings, such as “Dear Customer,” and a false sense of urgency. Any customer who receives a suspicious message purporting to be from Verizon should forward the message to phishing@verizonwireless.com.

The BBB said the email should be deleted without clicking on any links.

Tags: news, bbb, warning, verizon, scam