[at-l] RE: Credit Card Scam

[jurbine at west-chester.com (Joel P. Urbine)]

> > > > VISA & MASTERCARD Telephone Credit Card Scam
> > > >
> > > > This information is worth reading.  By understanding how the VISA &
> > > > Mastercard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better 
>prepared
> > > to
> > > > protect yourself.  Thanks to Dr.  Pat Cloney for passing this on.
> > > Those
> > > con
> > > > artists get more creative every day.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > My husband 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> 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 #" 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,
> > > "he
> > > > needs 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 your card number, the next 3 are the 'Security Numbers' that
> > > verify
> > > you
> > > > are in possession of the
> > > > card.   These are the numbers you use to make Internet purchases
> > > > to prove you have the card.  Read me the 3 numbers".  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 charge on on our card.
> > > >
> > > > Long story made short, we made a real fraud report and closed the 
>VISA
> > > card,
> > > > and they are reissuing us a new number.  What the scammers wants 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 direct.  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 harder 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 friends.  By informing each other, 
>we
> > > > protect each other.   Thank-You.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
>

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