[ZX5focused]

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.