Man,
they are getting slick!!!
New
Credit Card Scam
Snopes.Com
says
this is true.
To verify see this site:
http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp
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 &
Master Card 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: Caller: '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 ?'
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), i s 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 -
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
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.
