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This is for business owners and consumers alike who have a major credit card either debit or credit.
This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want.
WARNING...New Credit Card Scam.
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 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 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 made 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
to late and/or more difficult to actually file a
fraud report.
What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, (NOT ME-JESS)
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
David
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