Mutrix Farmers Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Some of you may have seen this before but I think it's worth a reminder (sorry it's a bit long). "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 "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 flagged20for 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 London ?" 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 0800 number list ed on the back of your card (0800 -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 real20fraud 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 too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report. What makes thi s 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 . " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baby bears mum Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Thanks honey. That really is worth knowing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Blimey - that would have suckerd me right in too Thanks for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 I have had a couple of calls in the past from my (genuine) credit card companyabout verifying purchases so probably would've fallen for this . Thanks for the warning . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 thanks for the warning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 These get more and more inventive. Thanks for the warning. Good reason to stick to name rank and serial number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 My neighbour works for HSBC in Canary Wharf and told me about this yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Crikey! Thanks for the warning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 This is another hoax see here: http://www.sophos.com/security/hoaxes/visa_mastercard_scam.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 What is the point of hoaxes like that? Who does them and what do they get out of them? The phrase "get a life" springs to mind . Still, there's no harm getting a warning to be on your guard when people phone up out of the blue . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Crikey I think I would have fallen for that one as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Despicable isn't it that people have the front to masquerade as someone else to con decent people. We can only hope that they will get what they deserve eventually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 It is very plausible isn't it? Thanks for the warning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Very clever these tricksters. The other day I had an e-mail plus an attachment returned as being unable to find the recipient. It had no information, so the general idea was to click onto the attachment to see what it was and then find out who it was sent to. Thing was I never sent any e-mails with an attachment and the 2 people who I did send mail to had already replied. OH said "DELETE - AND DO NOT OPEN THAT ATTACHMENT!" I already had because I was suspicious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 In a similar vein........ I got my bank statement last week and there was a payment that I did not recognise! I got on to my bank straight away and the guy said to me "not another one - we have had loads of these already today"...... The transaction was for £47.97 and was to "prime membership" - it turns out to be a scam , the bank have no idea whats happening and refunded me right away. I was concerned that my account had been compromised, but was assured it had not ( I've been there, done that in the past) . I had to file a report etc...... I think these low lifes are assuming that people will not check accounts too closely and if they did would assume it was an annual membership fee or something that was due in January. What's wrong with keeping money under your mattress I say.........after all - it's safer and it's not like you'd be losing interest at the moment is it? Louise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ardene5 Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Hi We have received a letter via our local Trading Standards Service and Lancashire Police about scam mail in the form of :- Foreign Lotteries Prize competitions Weight Loss Schemes Working at Home Career opportunity scams Cheque overpayment scams Clairvoyant or psychic scams Letter advance fee fraud Stating mailing in bulk to 10s of thousands of people across the UK states if you receive their messages and you feel that you are being targeted or receive misleading mailings you should complain to your Trading Standards Office not only to protect yourself but also to protect others who are more vulnerable. The national campaign web site is:- http://www.oft.gov.uk/scamnesty or Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 Hope this also helps. Best regards Ian & Valerie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
