[bsliny]

New Credit Card Scam

Snopes.com says this is true. See this site - http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp
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.

One of our employees was called on Wednesday from 'VISA', and I was called on Thursday from 'Master Card'. 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 inArizona?'

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 t he 1- 800 number liste d on t he 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 yo u still have your card . Do you have any other questions?' After you say No, the caller then thanks you and state s, 'Do n'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 $49799 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-fo r-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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[Sidney Lanier]

Computers work both ways; it's amazing how much information there is out there about us, and how easy it is for the scammers to go phishing by presenting us with everything they already know about us, which lends legitimacy to their call. One of our sons who has his own business and is pretty savvy was taken in by a fake message from his bank; the moment he clicked he realized it, immediately disconnected, but then had to have the bank close and redo everything. It's so subtle, and we have to be so vigilant!

[downeaster]

This scam has been around a while. It seems they go silent for a while and then are resurrected.
Thanks BSINY, for the heads up.

BTW, I get a lot of scam alerts that turn out to be hoaxes. BSINY had the foresight to research this one to determine its validity before sharing it with us.
Thanks again.

DC

[chelsea24]

Thank you so much for posting this. I probably would have fallen for it. :bigthumbsup: :bigthumbsup: :bigthumbsup:

[Peggy D]

Thank you for posting this.

[Floridagal]

I had this happen to me a couple of months ago. I hung up and called Master Card and they informed me they did not call. I requested a new card for safety reasons and they did send me one a few days later.

[JohnN]

I give out no info over the phone unless I initiate the call.

However, this is quite a clever scam. Thanks for the tip.

[marianne237]

Last month we received a phone call from Chase Bank regarding strange purchases on our Visa. They left an 800 phone# for us to call and speak with them. Before calling that number, I called my old Bank in Indiana and spoke with the bank officer up there to question all of this. She was able to verify that something did in fact get charged to our Visa and that the 800# given to us was legit.

I called and was informed that 4 purchases of gasoline were made in Texas using our Visa account. I have never been to Texas, nor do we use this card for gas purchases! Chase cancelled that account and issued a new card and we were not charged for anything.

This was a real wake up for us how easily someone can get a credit card number. I can only figure that it was stolen at a restaurant in Ocala.

Before answering any phone calls regarding charge/debit cards, I'd suggest you speak with a bank officer in your bank before giving info over the phone.

What I question is how can someone in Texas charge $96.10 of gasoline to me when I physically have the card in my possession? That's one thing that confuses me.

[Shirleevee]

All they need are your credit card numbers.......they already have the blank cards. One of the Dateline or 20/20 investigational shows showed how it is done.


Shirleevee