Current Credit Card Scam Alert!

[Ringel05]

Just received this via e-mail.
Snopes confirms it is real.

Man, they are getting slick!!!

New Credit Card Scam
Snopes.Com says this is true. To verify see this site:snopes.com: Visa Fraud Investigation Scam

This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU 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 & Master Card 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 'Master Card'.. The scam works like this: Caller: '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 ?'

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), i s that correct?'

You say 'yes'. The caller continues - 'I will be starting a Fraud invest igation. 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 min utes 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 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 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 Master Card' 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, friends and neighbors. By informing each other, we protect each other.


Neighbors helping neighbors; always the best policy!

 

[California Girl]

My advice, when dealing with banks or card companies.... ALWAYS CALL THEM. I never answer questions, I always ask for a name and say I will call the number on my card and ask to speak to them. I don't take a number from them, I always use the standard number provided by the company.

 

[eagleseven]

My advice, when dealing with banks or card companies.... ALWAYS CALL THEM. I never answer questions, I always ask for a name and say I will call the number on my card and ask to speak to them. I don't take a number from them, I always use the standard number provided by the company.

A good policy...you can never be too safe.

Damn, scammers sure are getting creative.

 

[asaratis]

Did you say current credit card scam?

Whew! I'm off the hook...all my cards are expired!

 

[Ringel05]

My advice, when dealing with banks or card companies.... ALWAYS CALL THEM. I never answer questions, I always ask for a name and say I will call the number on my card and ask to speak to them. I don't take a number from them, I always use the standard number provided by the company.

Not only that, try to get an name and return call number claiming you want to check your account online first, then contact the police also with the information.

 

[California Girl]

My advice, when dealing with banks or card companies.... ALWAYS CALL THEM. I never answer questions, I always ask for a name and say I will call the number on my card and ask to speak to them. I don't take a number from them, I always use the standard number provided by the company.

Not only that, try to get an name and return call number claiming you want to check your account online first, then contact the police also with the information.

That's a good idea. I will implement that. When my bank call me, they always suggest I call them back. I always do.

 

[Xenophon]

Never trust anybody, you will be better off.

 

[Lost Soul]

Best advise I can give. Dont have credit cards.

In my 44 years of living, one of my hardest learned lessons is how easy it is to use a credit card and how hard it is to pay them off. I finally had enough oneday and cut all four of them up. Now I have two debit cards. One to my checking and one to my savings. If I need something and cannot pay for it out of my checking, I use my savings. If I still cannot afford it, then I dont need it.

 

[editec]

Having credit cards is like walking around with venemous vipers in your pocket.

Sooner or later you're gonna get bit.

If not by some credit card scammmer, then by the issuer of the credit card itself.

 

[Ringel05]

Best advise I can give. Dont have credit cards.

In my 44 years of living, one of my hardest learned lessons is how easy it is to use a credit card and how hard it is to pay them off. I finally had enough oneday and cut all four of them up. Now I have two debit cards. One to my checking and one to my savings. If I need something and cannot pay for it out of my checking, I use my savings. If I still cannot afford it, then I dont need it.

I keep one card (mostly for emergencies) though I do use it once every three or four months as long as I can pay the charge off in 1 to 3 months. This keeps it active and I don't get charged a non-use fee.

Also if everyone passes this on to all they can it hinders the scammers ability to do their dirty deed.

 

[Zoom-boing]

We kept getting Visa calling the hubs over the weekend . . . his name must be the primary name on our credit cards cause they won't talk to me. They said something about a balance being past due (there aren't any past due balances on our cards) and they wanted to know if xxxx was the last 4 digits of our card. Hubs just said no but the caller likely wanted him to say 'no, the last four digits are xxxx'. Then they asked if his middle initial was X. Hubs again just said no without offering any more info. Then the caller (who, btw, said she was w/Visa) said something like 'oh, perhaps it's your son because the account is listed as Junior'. He told her he didn't have a son. She said that they'd take our phone number off of that card but that it might take 24 hours so if someone calls again to just reference this call. HUH??? CC reps record everything and any 'referencing of a call' is noted in the files. Scam alert! They called three times and finally got a hold of the hubs tonight.

Thanks again for this thread, Ringel. I'm printing off a copy of the scam you posted and mailing it to my parents. They might fall for this because it sounds so legit.