BestBuy Warning / Scam

[jsalba]

Bogus Best Buy E-Mail a Scam

Jun 20, 2003 1:25 pm US/Eastern
Pittsburgh (KDKA) Officials are warning consumers about an elaborate Internet scam that could be waiting in their e-mail inbox. A scam artist has set up a fake Best Buy website to try and trick people into giving up their personal information.

Thousands of people across Pennsylvania have been getting bogus e-mail that claim to be from the store. The official-looking messages tell the recipients that the company needs their credit card information to get merchandise that they've ordered.

Susan Muschweck got the e-mail, which claimed that she ordered two CD players topping $700. The site even had a shipping address in Staten Island, New York.

In reality, though, the Marshall Townhip woman never ordered the items.
"The information was so comprehensive, they included everything--including shipping address, the shipping number, the products, the product number." -- Susan Muschweck, Marshall Twp
As a recent victim of credit card fraud, Muschweck says she knew better than to give out her personal information.

Instead, she called her local Best Buy store.

Now, the real Best Buy website posts a warning to consumers.

The company assures customers that the hackers did not get a copy of their customer list; rather, Best Buy officials say, the scam artist is sending the e-mailayers topping $700. The site even had a shipping address in Staten Island, New York.

In reality, though, the Marshall Townhip woman never ordered the items.
"The information was so comprehensive, they included everything--including shipping address, the shipping number, the products, the product number." -- Susan Muschweck, Marshall Twp
As a recent victim of credit card fraud, Muschweck says she knew better than to give out her personal information.

Instead, she called her local Best Buy store.

Now, the real Best Buy website posts a warning to consumers.

The company assures customers that the hackers did not get a copy of their customer list; rather, Best Buy officials say, the scam artist is sending the e-mails at random.

The state attorney general's office is urging anyone who gets the phony message to report it -- and delete the message

Those who mistakenly bought into the scam and gave out their personal info are advised to contact their credit card company and the credit bureau immediately.
"I truly think if you don't pay attention to this stuff, there are people out there who will be defrauded -- and it's usually the elderly." -- Susan Muschweck, Marshall Twp
The attorney general's office says they're working with the real Best Buy to shut down the fraudulent sites. So far, they've shut down two.


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[Pipanella]

I didn't get the fraudulent e-mail, but I did get an e-mail from Best Buy warning me about it.


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[3tbear]

Thanx for the headsup on that one. My credit card # was recently stolen by someone I don't know, a card I had not used in 2-3 years, luckily my card company put a block on it so I was one of the lucky ones. I canceled it soon after. Who needs that problem.