Warning Signs Businesses Should Look Out For To Avoid QuickBooks Phishing Scams

phishing scamIt’s officially tax time, which means it’s also time for an increase in IRS, identity and phishing scams. One scam in particular that has impacted some of our clients relates to QuickBooks accounting software. When checking emails, beware of the subject line, “QuickBooks Support: Change Request.” Any emails pertaining to QuickBooks accounting software should be cautiously looked over before clicking any embedded links.

This recent scam first asks you to “confirm” business changes within QuickBooks’ manufacturer, Intuit. Conveniently, the email provides a link to click that will supposedly guide you to a page to cancel these changes. Do not click this link! Once clicked, you and your business will have fallen into the scammers’ trick to give them access to passwords and private financial information that can later lead to identity theft.

While all businesses can be at risk, there are warning signs to watch out for in order to steer clear of becoming another phishing scam statistic.

  • Link leads you to incorrect domain – Without actually clicking on the “cancel” link, you can hover over it with your mouse to see the domain name. In this case, you should see that the link’s domain is www.intuit.com. If you see something such as Intuit.otherwebsite.com or a link with a similar name to Intuit, do not click it.
  • Generic email address – Always double check the email address the message came from. The email should have come from a direct company email, such as name@intuit.com. If the email has been sent from Yahoo, Gmail, or any free email providing service, it is most likely a scam.
  • That weird feeling in your gut – If you think something seems “phishy” in an email, always call QuickBooks customer support before taking any further actions. They will be able to tell you if the email is real or a scam.

For any additional questions, please call our IT Director, Mark Jensen, at (973) 298-8500.