Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning consumers to beware of a scam that claims to be an online satisfaction survey from the retailing giant Wal-Mart, but instead is an attempt to steal personal credit information.
The scheme, which first became public two years ago, has recently been sent to consumers and businesses in the Midwest in recent days. It announces in an e-mail that “you have been selected to access the Wal-Mart 2 Step Survey and win a $150.00 gift certificate.” A link then takes the recipient to a nine-question survey called “How do we rate?” A second page asks for such information as Social Security number, credit card number, a three-digit card verification number and the name of the bank issuing the card. BBB President Jim Hegarty stated, “It is a sick trick, pure and simple, although it has every appearance of being legitimate.”
A business owner that received this email said, “It looks like Wal-Mart and it’s very professionally done. It looks credible. The request for personal and credit information sounded warning signals, but these scammers are going to get somebody.”
A company spokesperson for Wal-Mart told BBB that her company never asks for credit card details or Social Security numbers as part of its survey forms. She also said company surveys require that a customer enter a number from a Wal-Mart receipt. She asked that anyone receiving a bogus survey forward it to abuse@walmart.com.
BBB offers the following advice to consumers hoping to avoid online scams:
- Don’t be fooled by the appearance of an e-mail or website. Thieves have become very sophisticated in their ability to replicate sites, even providing direct links to a company’s history, departments and contact information.
Don’t fall for offers promising a significant cash payout or credit for taking a simple survey. If something looks too good to be true, it likely is.
Do not, under any circumstances, give personal detailed credit information to anyone until you have verified who will be using the information and how it will be used.
If you feel you may be the victim of a scam, contact BBB at www.bbb.org or 800-649-6814.
The Better Business Bureau,Inc.(BBB)has been serving the region for more than 70 years and is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting trust between consumers and the business community. Accountability, education and recognition are key components to the BBB's mission of fostering trust in the marketplace. Today, the BBB has a membership of approximately 7,000 companies in Nebraska, South Dakota and southwest Iowa. Consumers are encouraged to report complaints and possible scams to the BBB. The BBB annually honors organizations and companies that demonstrate exceptional business ethics with the prestigious Integrity Award. As a matter of policy, the BBB does not endorse any product, service or company. For more information, please visit www.bbb.org and “Start With Trust.”