Businesses targeted in QuickBooks scam

This clever new phishing scam is fooling small businesses. The message looks like an email alert from accounting software QuickBooks, but it's really a phishing con.

How the scam works: You receive an email with the subject line "QuickBooks Support: Change Request." The message is "confirming" that you changed your business name with Intuit, QuickBook's manufacturer. However, you never made such a request. It must be a mistake, but fortunately the email contains a link to cancel. Pause before you click! Scammers know that you didn't make this request, and the link to cancel is simply bait. It downloads malware to your device, which scammers use to capture passwords or hunt for sensitive information on your machine. This can open you up to identity theft.

How to spot a phishing scam:

Be wary of unexpected emails. Never click on links or attachments in emails you were not expecting without checking them out thoroughly first.

Check the reply email address. One easy way to spot an email scam is to look at the reply email. The address should be on a company domain, such as (jsmith@company.com).

Check the destination of links. Hover over links to see where they lead. Be sure the link points to the correct domain (www.companyname.com) not a variation, such as companyname.othersite.com or almostcompanyname.com. Scammers can get creative, so look closely.

Consider how the organization normally contacts you. If an organization normally reaches you by mail, be suspicious if you suddenly start receiving emails or text messages without having opted in to the new communications.

Be cautious of generic emails. Scammers try to cast a wide net by including little or no specific information in their fake emails. Be especially wary of messages you have not subscribed to or companies you have never done business with in the past.

Don't believe what you see. Just because an email looks real, doesn't mean it is. Scammers can fake anything from a company logo to the "Sent" email address.

For more information: Learn more about phishing scams and how to protect yourself on the Federal Trade Commission website at consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0003-phishing