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credit card scam
This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA &
nbsp; &
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
$477.99
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 purch ase 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 Mas terCard" 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.
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