Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning consumers of a scam targeting the financial data of Facebook, Hotmail, Yahoo, and Gmail users. The scam infects its victim’s computers with a version of the Zeus Trojan virus- a malware program regularly used to commit bank fraud.

Trusteer, the computer security firm that discovered the scam, says the virus targets Facebook users by getting them to link their Visa or MasterCard debit cards to their Facebook account; enticing them with a fake 20 percent cash back offer.

Malware scams on social networks can be particularly malicious because the fraudulent offers appear to come from trusted friends. In the case of Facebook, scammers will often hijack a user’s  account by getting the user to click on their post and accept their application, which can give the scammers access to all of the user’s account information, and allow them make unauthorized posts in the user’s name.

The Zeus Trojan virus has been used by scammers for years to steal financial information from unsuspecting consumers. Different versions of the virus are used by vast international crime syndicates, who have employed the virus to steal over $60 million and infect over 4 million computers in 196 countries since 2007, according to the FBI.

BBB offers these tips to users of social networks to avoid scams:

• When using Facebook, never install a game or an application that you’re not entirely sure is legitimate.
• On Facebook and Twitter be wary of posts from friends that use overtly promotional language. Examples would be: “Check out how I lost 20 pounds in two weeks,” or “I just received a FREE $50 Amazon gift card. Click here to get yours!”  A good rule of thumb: if it doesn’t seem like language your friend would normally use, your friend probably didn’t post it.
• Never click on Facebook posts, or install applications, that claim they will tell you which of your friends viewed your profile. It’s impossible to find out who is viewing your profile, and any application that claims it can show you is a scam.
• On Twitter and Facebook beware of promotional offers using shorted links that look similar to this: http://is.gd/b8XwNO. While shortened links are commonly used by legitimate businesses, they mask the true URL of the destination Web site, and scammers will use them to direct their victims to sites that will infect their computers with malware.
• If you mistakenly install a dubious application on Facebook click on the “Home” icon in the top right-hand corner of the site, and go to “Account Settings.” On the right-hand column of the page click on the icon that says “Apps,” and uninstall the suspect application. After you do that, BBB recommends you change your account password in case that has been compromised as well.

For more information on how you can keep your financial and personal data safe online visit www.bbb.org/data-security. If you think you may have been a victim of an online scam you can file a complaint with the FBI at www.ic3.gov.

Better Business Bureau honored FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair, Consumers Union leader James Guest, Amazon.com, Verizon and Villa Springfield Health and Rehabilitation Center this evening at the BBB International Torch Awards in Washington, DC.  The Torch Awards are given by the Council of Better Business Bureaus to recognize businesses and executives exhibiting integrity in the marketplace and exemplary dedication to advancing trust between businesses and consumers.

“For several years, we have experienced an unmistakable crisis of trust in the marketplace but there are still many businesses and leaders who continue to carry the torch for ethics, honesty and respect for the consumer,” said Steve Cox, President and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus.  “By recognizing today the exemplary commitment of this select group, we hope to encourage all businesses and leaders to follow the examples set by our honorees.”

Sheila C. Bair, Chairman of the FDIC, was presented the President’s Award by Steve Cox.  “From restructuring federal oversight of the financial industry, to raising consumer awareness of subprime lending and foreclosure scams, to educating children on money and finance, Ms. Bair has charted an amazing course,” said Cox.

The Torch Award for Consumer Leadership went to James A. Guest, CEO of Consumers Union—publisher of Consumer Reports.  His award was presented by Robert Adler, a Commissioner with the Consumer Product and Safety Commission.  “Throughout his career, Mr. Guest has been a tireless advocate for the consumer’s right to know about, and to be protected from, unsafe and misleading products and services,” said Mr. Adler.

Amazon.com, Inc. received the Torch Award for Advancing Marketplace Trust, which recognizes businesses that set high standards of excellence for trust through innovative voluntary actions, programs or sustainment activities. Amazon.com was recognized for being a global leader in e-commerce and creating the highest standards for the online purchasing experience.

Two companies – Verizon and Villa Springfield Health and Rehabilitation Center – received the Torch Award for Marketplace Excellence.

Verizon commits to putting its more than 100 million customers first by providing excellent service and great communications experiences.  Their goal is to operate at the highest level of integrity and accountability – from the way they serve their customers and shareowners to the way they impact their communities and the environment.  Villa Springfield has embodied the commitment and best practices of an ethical company with its mission to offer a superior level of care, treat every person with dignity, adopt innovative and progressive strategies, focus on residents’ well-being and provide impeccable customer service.

The BBB International Torch Awards was held this evening at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in downtown Washington, D.C. David Plouffe, political strategist and author of The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama’s Historic Victory delivered the keynote address and ABC 7/WJLA-TV co-anchor Horace Holmes served as Master of Ceremonies.

BBB would like to thank Hewlett Packard Company and Visa, Inc. as “Integrity Circle” sponsors of the event.

Presented annually since 1996, the BBB International Torch Awards recognize businesses and individuals that maintain outstanding dedication to upholding ethical business standards and promoting trust in the marketplace.  BBB Torch Awards are awarded locally by more than 80 BBBs across the U.S. and Canada and on the international stage by the Council of Better Business Bureaus – the national organization representing the BBB system.

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Better Business Bureau and partners Symantec Corporation, Visa Inc., Kroll’s Fraud Solutions and NACHA – The Electronic Payments Association today launched a new national education initiative to help small business owners overcome any previous reluctance to taking the necessary steps to protect their sensitive customer and business data, so they won’t become the next victim of a data breach.

Data security threats affecting small businesses are both external and internal, but many owners fail to recognize the potential for a breach or take the necessary protection steps until it’s too late. The numbers:

• 33 percent of small businesses lack even simple antivirus protection. Source: Symantec Corporation, 2009
• 85 percent of data breaches occur at the small business level. Source: Visa Inc. September 2009
• 78 percent of consumers said they’d stop shopping at a store if they believed the store had experienced a card data compromise. Source: National survey of cardholders, Visa Inc., February 2009

“While data breaches affect businesses of all sizes, many small business owners aren’t taking the necessary steps to create ongoing data security policies and practices, including training their employees,” said Steve Cox, President and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. “Many small business owners recognize the importance of data security but don’t understand how vulnerable they really are, may feel intimidated by the issue or think that they lack the resources to implement a sound strategy.  As a result, data thieves often target small business owners, stealing both the sensitive financial information of the business and its customers.”

BBB’s Data Security—Made Simpler provides small and medium business owners with the guidelines and right-size resources they need to build a data security plan and put it into action right away.  BBB’s Data Security—Made Simpler includes turn-key guidance to help small business owners:

• Identify their data loss vulnerability points – electronic and paper-based
• Develop a data security policy that both protects sensitive data, ensures its availability and restricts access
• Identify and deploy the right kind of tools to protect sensitive data, based on their type of business
• Communicate their data protection policies to customers as a strategy to strengthen the business – customer trust relationship and differentiate their company from their competitors
• Know what to do if they believe they’ve been a victim of a data compromise

In addition to providing free and easy-to-understand guidance through www.bbb.org/data-security/, the network of community-based BBBs across North America – as well as partners Visa Inc., Symantec Corporation and Kroll’s Fraud Solutions – will reach out to small businesses to encourage an increased focus on data security.

Data Security—Made Simpler was created by BBB in collaboration with two nationally-recognized data security experts, Dana Rosenfeld and David Zetoony. Dana Rosenfeld, formally an assistant director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, is an attorney with Kelley Drye & Warren LLP. David Zetoony is an attorney with Bryan Cave LLP and has counseled dozens of companies on how to respond to data security breaches

For more information or to schedule an interview with a BBB spokesperson on online and offline practices small business owners can do to protect their data, contact Alison Southwick at 703-247-9376.