I just got this is my email today — and then I got another one just like it.
The quick rule is you should always check a link to make sure it’s sending you where it is advertising.
You can do this simply by hovering over a link, and looking at the URL (the address) that pops up. In the case of the email below, you aren’t going to the Better Business Bureau site — you’re going to a site in Australia that is mocked up to look like the bbb.org page.
You can’t count on the email address, because it’s easy to spoof the Reply To: function.
The email I got is reproduced below — and yes, there are other clues that this is off, like the odd use of the word “pretension.” Or the lack of spellcheck on the ONLINE COMPLIANT system.
The Better Business Bureau has gotten the above-referenced pretension from one of your clientele relative to their business contacts with you.
The ins of the client’s pretense are included on the turn.
Please overview this issue and communicate us of your position.
As a neutral bystander, the Better Business Bureau can help to settle the problem. Often pretenses are a result of misunderstandings a company wants to know about and right.
We encourage you to use our ONLINE COMPLIANT system to respond this claim.
The following URL (website address) below will take you directly to this claim and you will be able to enter your comments right on our website:
http://www.bbb.org
On a website please enter your complain id: 31353555 to review it.The Better Business Bureau develops and maintains Reliability Reports on companies across the United States and Canada .
This facts is available to the public and is frequently used by probable clientele.
Your assistance in responding to this claim becomes a permanent part of your file with the Better Business Bureau.
Failure to promptly give attention to this matter may be reflected in the report we give to consumers about your company.
Another version of this email went to a different fake BBB site, which would have sent me to http://hoozinc.com — likely not a real Better Business Bureau property.
Sad, because this one is clever enough to hit people who are likely to be less web-savvy, yet concerned enough about their business reputation to click anyway.
Be careful.
Google Link Verification Check
Goodness, that e-mail is badly written (sort of thing I’d use as a bad example in my Technical Communications class). But apparently including the bad links in your post caused Google to send your e-mail into my Spam folder. :~) I only just rescued it. Stay safe!