BBB: Email scam about child predators targeting parents

A new email scam has been targeting parents, pretending to be a "community alert" about a child predator that moved into the neighborhood.

The emails' subject line is often "Alert: There is a Child-Predator Living Near You!" and instructs readers to click to learn more about the predator alert, according to the Better Business Bureau.

Clicking the scam link will send victims to a phony site promising to sell local reports on sex offenders, and will also infect the users' computer with malware which can compromise usernames, passwords and credit card numbers.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Generally, it's best not to click on links in unsolicited emails. A simple Internet search will prove whether the information is real or not.

Other red flags are typos, bad grammar, strange "From" email addresses and personal information that you never shared with the company.

For more information on registered sex offenders in your area, the FBI has a directory of state databases.