CHICAGO, IL – October 27, 2011 - Many consumers have
reported being hit by an email scam this morning, appearing to be from StubHub
(it isn’t) saying it is charging consumer’s credit cards in excess of $2,700 to
pay for tickets to a boxing match in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Better Business
Bureau (BBB) warns anyone with a StubHub account (and even some who don’t) to
use caution with their email accounts.
StubHub has issued the following
statement via its website. “We are aware that some people
have received an email regarding order number 47223311, which they did not
place. The email is a phishing email, and was NOT sent by StubHub or any
affiliate. Your credit cards have not been charged. Please DO NOT click on any
link in the email. If you have logged in to your account via one of the links
in the email, you should log into your StubHub account immediately (https://www.stubhub.com/account) to change your StubHub password. If you have not clicked on any
of the links contained in the email, you can safely delete it.”
According to StubHub, the following are precautions consumers
can take:
- If you receive the scam
email, DON’T login.
It may steal your passwords and then give thieves access to your StubHub
account where valid credit card info may be stored.
- Change your password if you
have an account at StubHub – right away. Go directly to the StubHub site
to do that, not through an email.
- Send a copy of the scam email
you receive to safety@stubhub.com so they
can investigate.
“Consumers
should always investigate emails they receive that claim they are going to be
charged for goods and/or services,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO
of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago
and northern Illinois.
“Go directly to the company for information and never enter your personal information
including passwords and billing information as it may be a scam.”
The BBB
offers the following tips to staying safe when shopping or doing business
online:
- Change passwords
periodically. Ensure online accounts are kept
private by periodically changing passwords, make passwords unique so they
cannot be easily guessed by a scammer.
- Do not give away personal
information online. If led to an unfamiliar website,
do not give away any personal information. This includes: Social Security
number, banking information, passwords, birthday, etc.
- Update virus protection and
security software. Verify all anti-spyware, anti-malware, and security
software and mechanisms are robust and up-to-date on the computer. Also, implement
a process to periodically confirm they remain up-to-date. Security patches
are often available via automatic updates.
-
Monitor your statements. Keep a close eye out for
suspicious charges on the itemized breakdown of accounts. Through a financial
institution, you may also sign up for alerts to notify you when certain types
of transactions occur.
- Report fraud immediately. Share any fraudulent activity with
your bank as soon as you discover it. Consumer protections for debit and credit
cards vary but largely depend on when the fraudulent activity is reported.
Check and
report scams with your BBB’s Scam Source resource at http://chicago.bbb.org/scam-source
Anyone who receives scam email can report the email to the
Internet Crime Complaint
Center at www.ic3.gov
For
information on staying safe online, visit www.bbb.org
###
As a private, non-profit organization, the
purpose of the Better Business Bureau is to promote an ethical marketplace.
BBBs help resolve buyer/seller complaints by means of conciliation, mediation
and arbitration. BBBs also review advertising claims, online business practices
and charitable organizations. BBBs develop and issue reviews on businesses
and nonprofit organizations and encourage people to check out a company or
charity before making a purchase or donation.
