| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Clare |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 09:22:45 AM
Passing this along, so we stay informed:
WARNING...New Credit Card Scam.
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.
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 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.
Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each other, we protect each other.
**** Love is the great work - though every heart is first an apprentice. - Hafiz
Set a high value on spontaneous kindness. - Samuel Johnson****
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| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Eileen |
Posted - Aug 31 2005 : 09:34:56 AM
Thank You Clare! This is toooooo close to the real thing. We were truly the victims of a credit card scam and got a call almost verbally identical except for the request of the 3 digits. We did get a refund of the charges but it would be easy to fall for this one because they seem to be using the script that the real fraud investigation group uses with the small added detail.
Eileen
songbird; singing joy to the earth |
| bramble |
Posted - Aug 30 2005 : 8:15:31 PM
I always respond to any phone call solicitation, donation request , etc the same way. I stop the caller a few seconds into their schpiel
and say" Well it was very nice that you called me but I don't conduct business over the telephone. Please take my name and number off your call list (NJ has a Do Not Call List). If you would like to send me some literature regarding this matter I will look it over and make my decision then. " At this point the phone usually goes dead. Hmmmm... think there's a problem?!!! I've had a few fools try to argue with me that they don't have literature because it is too expensive or some other lame excuse, but at this point; the jig is up! Try it , it works lik a charm and you never have to divulge who you are, where you live or anything because you get the upper hand early in the call.
with a happy heart |
| realme52 |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 4:36:46 PM
Glad you warned! Shure sounds like something one could easily fall for! Thanks, Clare!
From this hour on I ordain myself loss'd of limits and immaginary lines. Walt Whitman |
| mdotterer |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 2:12:34 PM
Thanks for heads up, Clare! I'll certainly pass it along.
Marlene |
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