Tangerinedream
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- Jan 15, 2007
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I dont know if this is real or not but I thought it is better to be aware-
This one is pretty slick since they provide Y O U 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 another 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
London?" 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 0800 number listed on
the back of your card (0800-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 MasterCard
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,
another colleague got a call from a "Jason Richardson
of MasterCard" with a word-for-word repeat of the
VISA scam. This time they didn't let him finish.
they hung up and 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.
SO BEWARE
