"BB&T Account Access on Hold Because of Suspicious Activity" Phishing Scams
The email message below, which claims the recipients' Branch Banking and Trust(BB&T) accounts have been put on hold because of suspicious activities is a phishing scam. The phishing email message then claims that the recipients need to click on a link to restore 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 cybercriminals 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(BB&T) and Trust Email Message
From: BB&T Bank - bbt-ONLINe2@mail.com
Date: July 24, 2017 at 8:30:20 PM HST
Subject: BB&T Bank Online Banking Policy.
BB&T
Account Security Alert
Dear Client,
For your security, We have put a hold on the online access based on the suspicious activity happened today earlier. That hold was placed with our automated security system. Just ensure your security, we have created a new security forum for you to confirm your identity. You will need to visit our verification page in order to restore the account.
To begin, please select the link below:
Click Here
We are here to assist you anytime. Your account security is our priority.
Thank you
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.
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Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.