Crumm
Fordoholic
This may be an old scam or something new going around but I thought I would share it just encase someone gets a call. I received this from a friend via email.
WARNING...New Credit Card Scam. Note, the callers do not ask for your card
number.
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.
WARNING...New Credit Card Scam. Note, the callers do not ask for your card
number.
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.
