Branch Banking and Trust(BB&T) customers are asked to be aware of phishing email messages like the one below, which appear as a security verification alert. The phishing email messages claim that Branch Banking and Trust has detected that someone might have accessed to the recipients' online accounts. The phishing email messages then claim that the recipients need to click on a link to recover their accounts. But, the link will only take the recipients who have clicked on it, to a phishing website, looking like Branch Banking and Trust’s website, where they will be asked to sign-in with their account credentials. Once the victims enter their account credentials on the fake website, it will be sent to the cyber-criminals behind the scam, who will use it to gain access to their victims’ accounts, where they will steal the victims’ money and use their accounts fraudulently.
A Sample of the Phishing Branch Banking and Trust Email Messages
Subject: Re: Verify Your Security Information
BB&T Insurance Services
Global Resources - Client Focused
Dear Customer:
We think that someone else might have accessed you online account.
When this happens, we require you to verify your identity with a security challenge and then verify your information before you log in.
If someone else has access to your account, they have your password and might be trying to access your personal information.
Recover Account
Thanks,
2017, Branch Banking and Trust Company.
It is important for internet users to remember that they should never click on a link to sign into their online accounts, especially links in email messages. The safest way to sign into their online accounts is to go directly to their online account providers’ websites, by typing the addresses of the websites in their web browsers or using a popular search engine to find the websites.
For example:
BB&T’s customers should go directly to: “https://www.bbt.com/” in their web browsers or search for “Branch Banking and Trust” using a popular search engine. And, if there is something wrong with their accounts or there is something that they need to do, they will be notified right after signing in.
Recipients of the phishing BB&T email, who have clicked on the link and have attempted to sign into the phishing website with their accounts’ credentials, should change their passwords and contact Branch Banking and Trust immediately.