Large Scale E-mail Scam Claims Hundreds of Victims -Hundreds of Californians have fallen for it

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[chance33_98]

Large Scale E-mail Scam Claims Hundreds of Victims

Hundreds of Californians have fallen victim to an official-looking email warning them to take action to avoid unauthorized use of their credit card.

The message, which purports to come from the electronics retailer Best Buy, is titled "BestBuy Order #1095619. Fraud Alert" (the order number may vary). It advises the recipient that a "suspicious" credit card purchase has been made. "Our Fraud Department has some suspicions regarding this order and we need you to visit a special Fraud Department page at our web store where you can confirm or decline this transaction by providing us with the correct information," says the message, in part.

The e-mail recipient is then directed to a website that appears to be that of Best Buy. Once there, the victim of the scam is asked to provide a wide range of personal information, including credit card and bank account numbers. Two pieces of data, the victim's Social Security number and mother's maiden name, can be particularly damaging because they allow the scammers to access bank accounts.

Those behind the fraudulent operation use a number of web hosting companies that provide anonymity for their clients. Each of the services is used for a day or two before moving on to the next, making it difficult for authorities to shut them down.

Tens of thousand of complaints have already been received by Best Buy, most from the United States, but some from as far away as France and Australia. According to a spokesperson for the company, the FBI has now joined the investigation into the fraud.

Best Buy points out that the security of company databases has not been breached, and that messages are apparently being sent at random. A significant number of the recipients have never patronized Best Buy.

Best Buy is taking steps to inform the public about the scam, offering warnings on the company website and phone lines. The retailer is also working with the news media to get the word out.

Experts advise that legitimate fraud investigations never require users to submit personal information online or over the telephone.

[Larry Lucido]

Just a higher-tech version of the old "bank examiner" scam.

[MightyMouseToSaveThe Day]

I wonder if this is the same bunch of crooks behind a similar scam involving PayPal recently--or just some enterprising copycat criminals.

[chance33_98]

I don't know - send me your credit card info and I will see what I can find out for you :)

[martin_fierro]

What?

The people who elected Babs Boxer and DiFi to the Senate are ... gullible??

Shirley you're joking! <|:)~

[msdrby]

Interestingly enough, I did receive an email from BestBuy concerning this very thing. It stated that the original email was a fraud, that it in no way shape or form originated from BestBuy or any company with ties to it. I think I still have a copy of it if you want me to post it.

[VeniVidiVici]

Sometimes I fill these bogus requests out with equally bogus information.

Don't know if it screws them up but it sure makes me happy.

[South40]

The people who elected Babs Boxer and DiFi to the Senate are ... gullible??

Of course they are. But there are many Californians who are not and they're about to throw gay davis out on his ear.

[chance33_98]

Yeah, would like to see it.

[ALS]

"a californian and his money are soon departed"

one way or another

[Delta 21]

I wish those hundrerds of Californians would just fall off into the sea.

[ctonious]

Same thing concerning Ebay. "Please to be of notice to your happy personage. I am in depressing circumstance here in Nigeria. Please to give me your password to your Ebay account, because I need post $100,000,000 bank account to lucky body who receive, and me to arrive in US country for reclaim."

Just kidding about the both of them being together. But the Nigeria and Ebay scammers are still at it.

[Jorge]

Why would anybody respond to an email like this without first confirming it off line... by contacting the actual company in person that the email claims to represent?

I am automatically suspicious of ANYTHING online..ANY email or ANY web site that asks me for personal information.

I can't believe people fell for this scam.

[teletech]

I got one of these emails the other day and promptly DELETED it! I RARELY shop at Best Buy.

[Xenalyte]

Jeez, what kind of stupe falls for this?

[chance33_98]

[msdrby]

This is a cut and paste of the email notification I received from BestBuy.


IMPORTANT: E-MAIL HOAX NOTIFICATION

Late Wednesday afternoon, June 18, 2003, Best Buy became aware of an unauthorized and deceptive e-mail to consumers titled "Fraud Alert." That e-mail message, which requested personal information (i.e., social security and credit card numbers), claimed to come from the BestBuy.com Fraud Department. That message was NOT from Best Buy or any of our affiliates.

Best Buy is working with the appropriate law enforcement authorities to quickly resolve the situation. We are working to shut down sites affiliated with that unauthorized e-mail and Best Buy will work with law enforcement authorities to prosecute any perpetrators involved in this illegal act to the fullest extent of the law. If you replied to the fraudulent
e-mail in any way, contact your bank and/or credit card companies immediately.

No Best Buy systems have been compromised, and our online business is secure. The privacy of your personal information is of the utmost importance to Best Buy and any information you provide to us is handled according to our Privacy Policy.

As part of the preparation for the relaunch of BestBuy.com, online purchasing will be temporarily unavailable beginning Friday, June 20; however, our product information and helpful resource articles will still be available. Rest assured, the fraudulent e-mail will not affect the launch of our redesigned Web site.

If you have any questions, call Customer Care at 1-888-BEST BUY (237-8289) or visit our Online Pressroom.

To find out more about protecting your information, visit the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Web site at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

Thank you for being a valued Best Buy customer.

If you've opted out of Best Buy promotional e-mails, don't worry: you haven't been signed up again. We just wanted to make sure you knew about this situation, regardless of whether you receive Best Buy promotional e-mails. You will NOT continue to receive Best Buy promotional e-mails. Thank you.


Hotmail has replaced this image to help protect your privacy.

[chance33_98]

Late Wednesday afternoon, June 18, 2003, Best Buy became aware of an unauthorized and deceptive e-mail to consumers titled "Fraud Alert."

"This is not related to our usual ads which try to rip you off..."

[goldstategop]

I think so. Same folks behind the Paypal/Ebay e-mail scam. Right down to the web page. Fool you once, shame on you! Never ever hand out personal info over the web to someone you don't know.

[Doohickey]

Moral of the story:

The stupid shall be punished