A new scam actually uses the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in an email that has gone out in Middle Tennessee.

The BBB reports, "A few businesses have notified us that they received an email from the BBB's "Department of Consumer Affairs." Evidently, the email is most likely a phishing scam.

If you have received this email, do not open it and instead, report it at BBB.org/scamtracker.

So, how can you tell if an email is a scam?

• Check the contact information and sending email. If the email does not have contact information or match the company that contacted you, it is most likely a scam.

• Get outside confirmation.Scammers often pose as government agencies or use real company names. Contact the company directly to follow up, but don't use a link or phone number provided in the potentially phony message.

• Be cautious of generic Emails. Scammers try to cast a wide net by including little specific information in their fake emails. Always be wary of overly broad messages, subject lines, and descriptions.

• Don't believe what you see. Just because an email looks real, doesn't mean it is. Scammers can fake anything from a company logo to the "Sent" email address.