BBB Says Watch for Scams Specifically Targeting You

Tuesday, March 1st, 2022 -- 12:00 PM

(Raymond Neupert, WRN) The Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin says you need to be on the watch for scams specifically targeting you.

The Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin is warning of specially targeted scams against businesses, called Spear Phishing. President Jim Temmer says that it's different from a regular email or phone scam because it's targeted to you at your place of work. 

"You will get a text, you don't recognize the number. And they're going to claim they're your boss, for instance. Here at the BBB, it'd say 'Hi, this is Jim, I'm tied up right now, please text me back, I've got some for you to do!'"

Temmer says a typical scam comes in the form of a strange email or text from your boss or your boss's boss. "I'm the scammer, and I say, hey, you know what, somebody just did something great, go buy a $500 gift card for them, or send a check to this person, whatever it is, I'm going to ask, it's a scam."

They might also ask for personal or business information from you, or to fill out and approve an invoice. If you find yourself getting a strange message like this, contact your IT department or your boss directly and make sure it's legitimate.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.