Slick scam

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Slick scam

This checks out on Snopes.com

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 & 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 " Master Card " .

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 - 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 w i ll 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

" 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 and friends. By informing each

other, we protect each other.

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