Just some thing I found and thought it worthy of posting.


> 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.
>
> 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 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 made 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 to 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
> 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.
>

 

Thanks for the heads up. The rate at which new scams appear is beyond alarming, and anyone with internet access and a criminal mind can figure out a new one.

Ernie

 

This should be posted in the General discussion forum where everyone can see it.

 

Good point, I'll see about getting it moved

 

Moved to General Conversation.

 

Thanks for the heads up - this is the first I've heard of it and it is a clever scam.

 

I checked it out on Snopes and apparently it is a real scam.

 

Interesting...

Any non-authorized charge on a credit card or debit card supported by visa/mastercard has a chargeback time frame of 6 months. Meaning, you have the option of fighting a charge for 6 months, not just 1 or 2 months...

You've got to have a merchant account in order to charge a credit card. If they charged your account, and you told visa/MC it wasn't authorized, a chargeback would begin and they would investigate the charge. They'd know the merchant account who made the charge. Merchant accounts are not easy to get, I find it hard to see how someone could get a merchant account and charge a credit card, then not be found later on.

Regardless, you're not responsible for the charge, so they won't take your money.

I hate these things because it makes people very unsure of using their credit cards which hurts legitimate business. Many people simply don't understand the security of a credit card. I get people all the time at work who send us checks or money orders to buy something (mail order) vs using a credit card. Not smart.

I can't see how this would be a big scam, doesn't seem very effective to me....just my 2 cents.