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This article
is a repost of an e-mail received.
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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.
The calls are coming from both people alleging to be "Mastercard"
and "Visa"'. 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
t he
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.
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