The Holiday Season is just a little bit down the road and the bad
guys are already trying to get free stuff by using your credit. I just
received this so thought I'd forewarn you and forward it on.
New Credit Card Scam Snopes.com says this is true. See this
site - HYPERLINK http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp
http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp
<HYPERLINK
"http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp"http://www.snopes.com/c
rime/warnings/creditcard.asp> This Snopes site says TRUE!!! I just checked
it myself...
This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the
information, except the one piece they want.
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.
One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA",
and I was called on Thursday from "Master Card".
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 fla gs 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 you rcard. Do you have any other questions?" After you sa! y,
"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 - 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 PI! N 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 Master Card" 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.
Mark Jackson
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.15/1101 - Release Date: 10/31/2007
10:06 AM
