> WARNING...New Credit Card Scam.<br />> <br />> Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have <br />> it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA <br />> &MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to <br />> protect yourself.<br />> <br />> One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was <br />> called on Thursday from "MasterCard".<br />> <br />> <br />> The scam works like this: Person calling says, "This is (name), and I'm <br />> calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number <br />> is 12460 Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, <br />> and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was <br />> issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for <br />> $497.99 from a Marketing company based in Arizona?" When you say "No", <br />> the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your <br />> account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range <br />> from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most <br />> cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you <br />> your address), is that correct?"<br />> <br />> You say "yes". The caller continues - "I will be starting a Fraud <br />> investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number <br />> listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security.<br />> <br />> You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives <br />> you a 6 digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?"<br />> <br />> Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, <br />> "I need to verify you are in possession of your card". He'll ask you to <br />> "turn your card over and look for some numbers". There are 7 numbers; <br />> the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security <br />> Numbers' that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the <br />> numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the <br />> card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you <br />> tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just <br />> needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you <br />> still have your card. Do you have any other questions?" After you say No, <br />> the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if <br />> you do", and hangs up.<br />> <br />> You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the <br />> Card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within <br />> 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA <br />> Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new <br />> purchase of $497.99 was charged to our card.<br />> <br />> Long story made short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA <br />> account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is <br />> the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. <br />> Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for <br />> verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never <br />> ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since <br />> they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, <br />> you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your <br />> statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then <br />> it's almost to late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud <br />> report.<br />> <br />> What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from <br />> a "Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a word-for-word repeat of the <br />> VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a <br />> police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking <br />> several of these reports daily!<br />> <br />> <br />> They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is <br />> happening.<br />>
