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BBB Reports Phishing Scam: "You Have A Complaint FIled Against You"

By
Home Stager with Owner, The Refreshed Home White Plains NY

If you receive an email from the BBB saying a customer filed a complaint against you, and gives you a file number and a link to respond, DON'T OPEN IT.

 

I received one today-and of course my mind was spinning. Never got anything like that before...but because I really don't have unhappy customers, I went directly to the BBB website instead, and found this article, published just today out of the NY office. Their vm messages said it appears to be targeting random busineses, and FBI was investigating.

 

Bottom line-if you get one, DELETE IT immediately. Run your malware scans, and make sure you have back up. And pass this on, the files you save could be a pal's.

 

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Our spaces affect us profoundly...and so many other parts in our life fall into place when our spaces and possessions serve us in the best way they can. But getting there is much more than a pursuit of pleasing aesthetics.

 

Decorating and Staging are different, but much of the skill sets overlap, and each creates unique solutions that considers the needs, goals, resources, expectations, hopes and dreams of each client.

Bettering Westchester, Putnam and lower Fairfield counties since 1981, The Refreshed Home works collaboratively, and brings a thoughtful approach to the creative process. Proud to make a difference, as well as make a living. Offering specialty services such as remote and buyer consults, listing photo/video styling, guided and accompanied shopping, and accessory rental. We get in, get out, and you get on with your life.  Talk to me TODAY about how we can better your space!

  

                    

 

Marie Graham ASP, IAHSP, IDS Your Stager With A Mission!

QUESTIONS? Don't hesitate!! 914.607.2895 

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Comments (15)
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Jim Patton
Aspire Home Real Estate 209-404-0816 - Modesto, CA
Realtor - Stanislaus ,Merced, San Joaquin Counties

I have gotten this one too Marie.   Thanks for the reminder.   There is always someone out there ready to take advantage isn't there?

Oct 23, 2012 09:32 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Wow, thx for the heads up.  I passed this on to  a few others.

Oct 23, 2012 10:43 AM
Pam Miller
Realty Associates - Conroe, TX
Broker Associate - Water Crest on Lake Conroe

Marie - Scary!  Thanks for sharing.  I will tell others about this.

Oct 23, 2012 11:39 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Hi Marie -- this one (or another one just like it) has been making the rounds for a while now ....  My son (the guru webmaster) said you can copy the link and paste it into your browser ... but never, ever click on it in your email. Many of the scammers are coming up with realistic-looking email "messages" that duplicate a lot of the original site's look.  Just don't take any chances :-)

Oct 23, 2012 12:08 PM
Marie Graham
Owner, The Refreshed Home White Plains NY - White Plains, NY
Westchester County Interior Decorator, Home Stager

Variations of this have been out there over the years, but once people recognize this ploy, it goes away...until they forget, and shows up again when their guard is down. Guess this go-round just started and is particularly vigorous, as NY BBB just wrote this warning today.

Oct 23, 2012 12:27 PM
Kathy Sheehan
Bay Equity, LLC 770-634-4021 - Atlanta, GA
Senior Loan Officer

This scam seems to resurface about once a year.  Hopefully no one falls for this.

Oct 23, 2012 12:35 PM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Good tips.  I suggested this post and hope it gets featured.  The phishing scams come in all shapes and sizes, so obvious, others not so much. 

Oct 23, 2012 01:04 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

This is great advice.  Never open an email that tells you something like this.  I get these from Banks from time to time. 

Delete them then you can go to the site.

Oct 23, 2012 01:40 PM
Kathy Nielsen
http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA
Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

I got that email as well. I hovered over the link (did NOT click on it) and could see that it wasn't real.

Thanks for helping to get the word out.

Kathy

Oct 23, 2012 09:53 PM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Been getting them for over a year...too many others to count too.. airline tix I didn't order, Fedex packages I have no idea about... best to mark them always as phishing scams!

Oct 23, 2012 10:47 PM
Alicia Barrington
THE ORIGINAL HOUSTON HOME STAGING - Katy, TX
Houston Home Staging Presents Alicia Barrington

We also received this email/scam!   It's happened on several occassions, and probably started sometime last year!  We aren't affiliated with the BBB but you can imagine my alarm when I received the first email.  Fortunately, I was able to 'preview' the email before opening, and realized it was a scam!

Happy Staging Y'all!

Oct 23, 2012 10:58 PM
Marie Graham
Owner, The Refreshed Home White Plains NY - White Plains, NY
Westchester County Interior Decorator, Home Stager

Hi Kathy-the ones that succeed in getting opened usually hit a nerve-the possibility of a BBB complaint by a customer will certainly get the attention of any responsiblesmall business owner.

Thanks Carla!

Hi Grant-because it's not an obvious scam-and looks quite feasible-people will not be thinking 'scam'

Kathy-Karen-Tom-thanks for contributing, wondering if Home Stagers are being targeted?

Oct 23, 2012 11:20 PM
M. Lynn Delatte
Developers Realty - Broadview Heights, OH

Thanks for the heads up.  Another good reminder to not open emails from people you don't know and to go to company websites if you have not given the company your email.

Oct 26, 2012 10:05 PM
Marie Graham
Owner, The Refreshed Home White Plains NY - White Plains, NY
Westchester County Interior Decorator, Home Stager

That was the tricky part, this one was really, really good-right email address, even the blue torch logo...

 

 

Oct 28, 2012 12:38 PM
Nick T Pappas
Assoc. Broker/Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, @HomesBirmingham & Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Hun... - Huntsville, AL
Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource
Marie, I just posted about a phishing scam that appeared to come from Verizon Wireless...there's no stopping these bottom of the barrel scum.
Oct 29, 2012 01:18 PM
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