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new scam...
magoogy
Posts: 2,961
Forumite
in Credit cards
just had the following message sent off a mate - seems quite an easy scam!!!
===
This is a scam that we have been alerted of at the PD, just wanted you all to know about it so you don’t fall victim.
FYI, I believe that the numbers on the back of the card are the CV numbers (card verification?)
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 st1:place w:st="on">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 that you are actually 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 your 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 actual 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 mae 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.
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 eports 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.
===
This is a scam that we have been alerted of at the PD, just wanted you all to know about it so you don’t fall victim.
FYI, I believe that the numbers on the back of the card are the CV numbers (card verification?)
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 st1:place w:st="on">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 that you are actually 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 your 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 actual 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 mae 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.
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 eports 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.
0
Comments
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Difficult, as when opening all 3 of my latest cards (heheh) they all asked for the verification digits on the rear exactly for the purpose of making sure I had the card in my posession.
I can see what this alert is trying to warn you against (although I have a feeling it"s one of those viral emails though) because if they have your address and card number, the verification digits would be handy, but it seems that card companies WILL ask you for those numbers legitamately!0 -
Members of my family, and my friends, don't need this sending to them.
They aren't that stupid.0 -
tin wrote:Difficult, as when opening all 3 of my latest cards (heheh) they all asked for the verification digits on the rear exactly for the purpose of making sure I had the card in my posession.
I can see what this alert is trying to warn you against (although I have a feeling it"s one of those viral emails though) because if they have your address and card number, the verification digits would be handy, but it seems that card companies WILL ask you for those numbers legitamately!
Yes, but there is a crucial difference. When you call your credit card company, you know that you are ringing the correct number and the card company needs to check that you have the card and that you are who you say you are. That is OK.
With the scam (whether real or not), the scammers call you to ask for the verification number and you have no way of knowing whether the caller is genuine.
In short, never give any credit card details to an incoming caller. Despite what credit card companies say, they do sometimes call to check transactions and they ask you to verify your card details. Never give this information. Simply tell them that you will call them back via the customer services number that you already know. A genuine caller from a credit card company fraud department will be more than happy with that.
ClarimanAuthor of the first Stoozing FAQ on the Internet and Creator of the SOA & Snowball calculators at Lemonfool.co.uk0 -
The fact that everything is in dollars and the suggestion of a US 'phone number on the back of the card should, but not always as these people are relying on, alert most UK card holders anyway. The contact numbers, on my cards, are 0845 or 0870.
Thanks for the warning though.0 -
tin wrote:although I have a feeling it"s one of those viral emails though
This email has been doing the rounds for years & is an urban myth, similar to the email about the new virus that wipes "sector 0" of your hard drive.
Although it brings to your attention how easy it would be to inadvertantly give out account info.Every day above ground is a good day.0 -
This thread is a repeat of one posted around three months ago.
ac's lovechild0
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