elaine
06-04-2008, 10:34 PM
CREDIT CARD SCAM:
This one is pretty slick since they provide Y O U 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 '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 London
?' 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 0800 number
listed on the back of your card (0800-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 - 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 MasterCard 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
.
This one is pretty slick since they provide Y O U 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 '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 London
?' 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 0800 number
listed on the back of your card (0800-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 - 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 MasterCard 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
.