MUST READ - NEW SCAM

Rebel_UK

I received this from a buddy today, have emailed it to Martin too, please read and be aware.

Visa and MasterCard Scam.
A friend was called on the telephone this week from 'VISA' and I was called
on Thursday from 'MasterCard'.

It worked like this: Person calling says, 'this is Carl Patterson (any
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.
Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Company a device/any expensive item,
for £497.99 from a marketing company based in (any town?)

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 (they give 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 your
card and ask for Security.
You will need to refer to this Control number.
They then give you a 6-digit number. 'Do you need me to read it again?

Caller then says he 'needs to verify you are in possession of your card'
(this is where the scam takes place as up until now they have requested
nothing!).
They then ask you to turn your card over.

There are 7numbers; the first 4 are 1234 (or whatever, as they have your
number anyway).
The next 3 are the security numbers that verify that you are in possession
of the card'
(these are the numbers they are really after as these are the numbers you
use to make internet purchases to prove you have the card).

'Read me the 3 numbers.' When you do he says '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?
Don't hesitate to call back if you do.'
You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card
number.
But after we were called on Wednesday, we telephoned 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 put 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 scam wants is the 3-digit number and that once the charge goes
through,
they keep changing every few days.
By the time you get your statement, you think the credit is coming, and then
it's harder to actually file a fraud report.

THE REAL VISA/MASTERCARD DEPARTMENT REINFORCED THE POINT THAT
>THEY WILL NEVER ASK FOR ANYTHING ABOUT THE CARD SINCE THEY ALREADY KNOW
>EVERYTHING ABOUT IT!!!!.

What makes this even more remarkable is that on Thursday a friend of mine
got a call from '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), and they said they are
taking several of these reports daily,

Gotabiscuit

I remember seeing something very similar mentioned on here a few months ago.

Looks like the scam is doing the rounds again, so thanks for the warning.

Sub_2

This isn't a new scam, it's a very very old scam. Social engineering attacks have been around for decades.

It's sad to see that there are still people falling for it.

Rebel_UK

sub,

Really !! 'very very old scam' ?

s'funny, I've been an internet user since 1995 when DOS based systems like Demon were the biz, also one of the first GUI systems WinNet came into being, I also Beta tested the first AOL system AOL 2.5, I never saw this precise scam then, I also seem to recall that the three digit number on the back of credit cards is pretty new too.

Not got anything positive to say mate, why say anything at all.

Rebel.

Milarky

Hmmm!

I just put the following into a Google advanced search and got over 100 hits:

All the words: VISA
Exact phrase: Carl Patterson

http://www.google.com/search?as_q=VISA&num=10&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=Carl+Patterson&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=off

Yep! It's ancient history! ;D

Shinds

well either way - Thanks for letting us all know Rebel.

Funny thing is - I was trying to place an order for over £900 on the net the other day and it didn't go through.

2 mins later I got a call from Visa - Asking me if I had tried to use the card and then asked me to go through security with them etc....

Once they were happy it was me - The lady told me try to place the order again in a few mins and it should go through... and so it did.

I've since received the goods - So just an FYI really, you sometimes can legitimately get a call from Visa.

Woby_Tide

I also Beta tested the first AOL system AOL 2.5

wouldn't the first version of AOL be AOL 1.0?

Sub_2

sub,

Really !! 'very very old scam' ?

s'funny, I've been an internet user since 1995 when DOS based systems like Demon were the biz, also one of the first GUI systems WinNet came into being, I also Beta tested the first AOL system AOL 2.5, I never saw this precise scam then, I also seem to recall that the three digit number on the back of credit cards is pretty new too.

Not got anything positive to say mate, why say anything at all.

Rebel.

I beg your pardon?

This is a classic social engineering attack, variations on this theme have been around for *decades*, since the widespread use of the telephone in fact.

It seems that despite you being "an internet user since 1995", and having seen "WinNet come into being" and "beta testing the first AOL system" all of which are oh so impressive qualifications, your highness... you were still dumb enough to fall for this age old claptrap.

These scammers only exist because there is a minority of people who are stupid enough to fall for their tricks.

You're in that minority, sunshine. Congratulations.

Rebel_UK

Woby,

yup it was, but ONLY released in the USA. it was 5 months before AOL launched in the UK and to suit the UK market it had to be upgraded, hence the AOL 2.5

Rebel

Rebel_UK

Oh dear sub

Where do I say 'I fell for it' please, before opening your mouth 'figuratively' engage your brain, it is a most useful organ

try reading my first post again, specifically, THE FIRST LINE.

insults don't become you

Emails I receive, that i haven't asked for or subscribed to, are deleted without opening, Norton removes spam and my firewall is excellent, the same goes for telephone calls especially cold calling, if I have the patience, I simply put the phone on the table, and let them yap on to thin air, it's their money they are wasting, if I am busy and have no patience, they, anyone, whoever it is, gets two words from me, and the second word is OFF.

I've never been scammed

Rebel

Sub_2

Fair point, I take it back, it's your friend that is the moron.

It still seems however that you aren't able to see that this scam is exactly the same kind of phishing con that lands in a million email in-boxes everyday and has done for ages. This one is just happens to be played out by phone, and is in fact the original, from where the online scam took its genisis.