Credit Card fraud ..be on your guard..

[Simon Dewsberry]

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 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 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, 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.

[CH1]

Wise advice. I never disclose the 3 digit pin unless I am personally making a purchase.

Guess the seasonal boom in spending is a time when fraudsters try to catch people out.

[Matthew]

Nice one, just passed on to friends by email.