I just got this in an e-mail, and it sounds feasible, so beware…
This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information,
except the one piece they want.
WARNING…New Credit Card Scam.
Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it.
This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA
&MasterCard
Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you’ll be better prepared to protect
yourself.
The scam works like this: Person calling says, "This is (name), and I’m
calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is
12460
Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I’m calling
to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of
bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a
Marketing
company based in Arizona?"
When you say “No”, the caller continues with, “Then we will be issuing a
credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the
charges
range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags
most
cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you
your address), is that correct?”
You say “yes”. The caller continues - "I will be starting a Fraud
investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number
listed on
the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security.
You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a
6
digit number. “Do you need me to read it again?”
Here’s the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, “I
need to verify you are in possession of your card”. He’ll ask you to “turn
your
card over and look for some numbers”. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are
part of your card number, the next 3 are the security numbers that verify
you
are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to
make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you
to
read the 3 numbers to him After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he’ll
say,
“That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost
or
stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other
questions?” After you say No, the caller then thanks you and states, “Don’t
hesitate to
call back if you do”, and hangs up.
You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card
number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20
minutes
to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department
told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99
was
charged to our card.
Long story made short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA
account. VISA is reissuing us a new number.
What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card.
Don’t give it to them. Instead, tell them you’ll call VISA or Master card
directly for verification of their conversation.
The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as
they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give
the
scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you’re receiving a credit.
However, by the time you get your statement you’ll see charges for
purchases you
didn’t make, and by then it’s almost too late and/or more difficult to
actually file a fraud report.
What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a
“Jason Richardson of MasterCard” with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA
scam
This time I didn’t let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as
instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these
reports
daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is
happening.
