FocusCanada Forums

Grabbed this off another board:

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 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. By informing each
>> other,
>> we protect each other.

ZX5focused,Sep 1 2005, 04:07 PM Wrote:[right][snapback]138131[/snapback][/right]

yeah this has been floating around for a year atleast. Any one that falls for something this dumb sorta deserves it. Best thing you can do is after they tell you they are from XXX ask them for their number they can be reached at and call them back. If indeed it is real then you may proceed. But CC companies would NEVER do anything like this, they would much sooner close your account and send you a new card before they do this s**t.

Heh, that's pretty sneaky.. I could see a lot of people falling for that. With the security code on the back of the card, you could use the name/numbers (obtained any number of ways) to charge a ton of different things online.

Yeah someone tried that with me a month or two ago, I laughed at him when he said there was a charge of $457.97 to my Visa card, he said why are you laughing?

I replied " You'd have to be really stupid to have allowed that charge to my account than. It would have been really irresponsible of Visa to allow that charge to my account to my card currently. "

The guy then replied " Oh, but that's why we're calling you " I than said " so you did allow the charge then? " his reply was " yes, it's why we're investigating it." I laughed again.

"Sir this is a serious matter!" was his reply, I than said " why would you knowingly allow a charge for that amount to be charge to my account, when you know that I only had maybe $ 10 of credit left on my card cards limit?", ( laughing out loud at the guy on the phone now ) " Visa wouldn't let me charge $20 in gas on the card with that much left on my card"

he then replied " oh, well I'll look in to it than" " yes do that than" my reply, and I hung up on the guy.

Pretty dumb to fall for it but even dumber to leave your credit card statements, phone bills or anything with personal information out with your garbage for anyone to grab which is probably how it began.

Maybe, maybe not, though I invested in a shredder and toasted older CC statements from both Amex & MC myself ;)

NefCanuck