Subject: Warning: New credit card Scam
Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2005 08:11:36 +0200
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.
My husband was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was called on
Thursday from "MasterCard".
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 to 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.
Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each
other, we protect each other.