AICPA Alert Re: Email Phishing Scam
February 23, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Repost from American Institute of CPA Featured News
Alert: New Email Phishing Scam Uses AICPA Logo
This email is not from the AICPA nor from the AICPA database.
Do not open any attachment or click on any link as the email may contain a virus. While the exact source has not yet been determined, we are actively investigating the situation.
On Friday, February 17, the Better Business Bureau reported that a new round of phishing scams is using a BBB.org email address along with the American Institute of CPAs logo and name. The message informs recipients that their CPA license is being terminated due to tax fraud allegations and encourages them to click on a link and reply to the charges. The link leads to a third party website that downloads a virus on to the recipient’s computer.
- Do not reply or click on the link in the email
- Forward fake BBB emails to phishing@council.bbb.org
- Delete the email
If you wish to speak with an AICPA member service specialist, call 888.777.7077 and select option 1.
ALERT: Very Convincing AICPA Email Phishing Scam
February 23, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Today I received an email from the AICPA, American Institute of CPAs, informing me that my CPA license was being revoked. I do not have a CPA license. The email from Charlotte Schroeder <alert@aicpa.org> read as follows:
Dear AICPA member,
We have been notified of your recent involvement in tax return fraudulent activity on behalf of one of your employees. According to AICPA Bylaw Section 600 your Certified Public Accountant status can be terminated in case of the aiding of presenting of a misguided or fraudulent tax return on the member’s or a client’s behalf.
Please find the complaint below below and provide your feedback to it within 21 days. The failure to do so within this term will result in suspension of your Accountant license.
There was a link to file a complaint. I quelled my immediate reaction to defend my honor and did some research. At AICPA website, I found a front page link to the story of the phishing scam which just broke Thursday, February 16, 2012. Yes, just last week.
RULE # 1 Never click a link in an email from an unknown sender until you have searched the web for verification. If there is a link in an email there should be directions to do the same tasks through the actual website. Then Google “Company Name” and “Scam”. You’ll know all you need to.
