Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina warns that Verizon customers are receiving phony e-mails that look almost identical to the real alerts many customers get to remind them of monthly payments.
This phishing scam is notable for its detailed replication of Verizon e-mails, with large bill amounts and links to third party Web sites being the only ways consumers can tell they are phony.
“Many of the e-mails state that customers owe nearly $500, which generally causes them to panic and click the link to find out more,” said Toby Barfield, president and CEO of BBB serving Eastern North Carolina. “It is vital for consumers to avoid clicking any links within the e-mail, otherwise they risk becoming a victim of identity theft.”
If you receive a suspicious e-mail from Verizon, delete it and do not click on the links. Consumers can test the links by using their mouse to hover over them and viewing the destination link. If the e-mail is a scam, the URL will not lead to Verizon’s Web site.
Verizon states that it does not send e-mail notices asking for customer payment information, usernames or passwords. Customers who receive a suspicious message purporting to be from Verizon should forward the message to phishing@verizonwireless.com.
