I had this happen to me this last Tuesday evening. The guy was not very professional and began to argue with me when I suggested that even he might be a fraud. I finally had to tell him I wasn't going to talk with him any more and hang up. Be carful. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Linda Stiles" <[log in to unmask]> To: "Ned Dawson Benton" <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 6:24 AM Subject: Fw: New Credit card scam > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Theresa" <[log in to unmask]> > To: "Theresa" <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 5:14 AM > Subject: New Credit card scam > > > > > > Subject: New Credit card scam > > > > > > > > [See Snopes.com http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp for > > more > > information. Apparently this scam IS being performed.] > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > Subject: Credit Card Scam All, FYI and use. This info was shared > > with me by a friend. The scam is not limited to U. S. Bank cards but > also > > applies to Government Travel Charge Cards and personal credit cards. > > > > > > 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 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. > > > > > > > > >