New Credit Card Scam

[Stan]

(sent to me via email)

New Credit Card Scam

Snopes.com says this is true. 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 & 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:

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 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 - 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.

Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each other, we protect each other.

[Neil D]

whoa!

They are getting more and more slick.....

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

wow. Thanks for posting this...

[phkrause]

I remember quite awhile ago getting a phone call similiar to that . They called and said they were security for this bank and lost records or something to that effect. Wanted to know my card # to make sure about something. I started giving them the number when (I would say it was HS whispering in my hear) I decided not to continue giving out anymore info. They got really upset and told me I failed the security check. And than a few weeks later I read or heard something about the scam going around. Man did I thank God.

pk

[Cosmin M.]

Does not really matter for me. I don't have a credit card. Yet.

[Cosmin M.]

Going to go post it on my other forums.

[LifeHiscost]

Going to go post it on my other forums.

Make sure you past the URL that only has one . after the www.

[Jeannieb43]

Another scam is a fake email which appears in your Inbox, advertising a dozen roses which you can send by email. My friend DID this -- and then called to see that the flowers arrived okay. She found out the flowers never arrived. And then she called her credit card company and found she'd been charged $80 for a dozen roses, when she'd been promised the charge would be $20!

She called her credit card company immediately and disputed all charges from that company.

But of course, my friend now realizes she should NEVER order anything by internet from an email solicitation!

[The REAL problem here is that NOW the bad guys have all my friend's credit card information!]

[Stan]

i try to use paypal for everything, they are the more experienced online buying... I have appealed charges online with them and have nothing but a good experience..