Rachel's $1,000 offer is too good to be true

If a customer service representative named Rachel emails you and says you've won a $1,000 Visa gift card, don't believe her. It's a scam, state officials say.

Earlier this year, some Wisconsin residents received robo calls from someone claiming to be Rachel from "credit card services" who directed people to a website in an email phishing scam, according to an email alert Monday from officials with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Now the scam has changed to emails from "Rachel, Customer Service, Employee Benefits Center, LLC" informing people nationwide that they have been issued a free $1,000 Visa gift card on behalf of a local business, charity or government agency.

"Be aware that it is a scam and take no action with the email," the alert says. "The emails appear official and ask recipients to visit a website to claim the card. If a recipient falls for the bait and visits the website, he/she will be asked for a number of personal details. It is also possible that the website may attempt to load malicious software (known as "malware") onto the victim's computer."

Typically, the scam emails will include the same content, the alert says.

The subject line of the email will typically read: (Your name), a thank you from (local company name).

The body of the email will include the recipient's first and last name and an "Issuing branch" in the city or state where the recipient lives, a "Valid until" date for the card (often listed as "08/2015"), a website where the recipient can "claim the card and have it shipped to the address of your choosing," a 48-hour deadline to make victims react more quickly to the "offer" and a signature from "Rachel, Customer Service, Employee Benefits Center, LLC."

"If you receive this email, do not visit the listed website, open any links or attachments, respond to the sender or take any other action with the solicitation," the alert says. "Update your anti-virus software to ensure that your computer can recognize any recent malware attacks."

For more information or to file a consumer complaint, visit datcp.wi.gov, send an email to datcphotline@wisconsin.gov or call the hotline toll-free at (800) 422-7128.

In general, officials advise consumers not to respond to any prompts during automated spam calls - even if the caller offers to unsubscribe the recipient from further calls by pressing a button. Usually, doing so will only increase the number of calls because it confirms to the caller that there is a live person at the other end of the line. This allows the caller to sell the number to other spammers as a working number.

Source:  JSOnline