Better Business Bureau Warns About Child Predator Scam

The BBB has warned people regarding a scam that could potentially harm their computers.

Scammers are sending emails that are designed to look like alerts for child predators that live in your neighborhood, according to the BBB. However, these "alerts" are in fact helping the scammer get their hands on your personal information.

The BBB says the subject line of the email will read “Pedophile alert” or “Alert: There is a Child-Predator Living Near You!” The email will also warn that a child predator may live in your area.

Here's a list of of tips from The Better Business Bureau:

Check out the “from” field. Scammers can mask email addresses, making them appear to come from legitimate sources. Look out for email addresses that don’t match the organization name used in the message.

Typos and grammar.  Organization logos and email formats can easily be copied, but bad grammar and poor writing typically indicate that a message is a scam.

Check URLs. Hover over a URL to determine its real destination. Usually, the hyperlink text will say one thing and the link will point somewhere else.

Personalized emails. Scams often pretend to be personalized, but it is actually blast emails. If the receiver never signed up for custom email alerts, the person should not be receiving them.

Be careful with “unsubscribe” options. It’s better to just delete this type of solicitation. If you choose unsubscribe, you could open yourself up for more unwanted spam email.