Warning - New Credit Card Scam - Pretty Slick ! :(

Post by **Shotokan101** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:02 pm

This one is pretty slick since they provide Y O U 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 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 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 listed 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 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 MasterCard 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 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

Post by **biro** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:33 pm

Wouldn't be related to the 'lost' disks by any chance ?
Name, address and bank details / card number !

Post by **Shotokan101** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:37 pm

biro wrote:Wouldn't be related to the 'lost' disks by any chance ?
Name, address and bank details / card number !

....now there's a thought

Post by **Alan** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 1:05 pm

biro wrote:Wouldn't be related to the 'lost' disks by any chance ?
Name, address and bank details / card number !

Makes you wonder!!!

Techsolver · Post by **Techsolver** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:17 pm

I don't think credit card or debit card numbers are part of the lost data.

Post by **Martyn** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 4:23 pm

This is an urban legend from 2003. Never verified.

However, the sentiments in it are still very pertinent. Never give your 3 digit CV2 number to anybody over the phone and also only use it on web pages that you can clearly see as secure.

Post by **Alan** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 4:51 pm

Martyn wrote:This is an urban legend from 2003. Never verified.

However, the sentiments in it are still very pertinent. Never give your 3 digit CV2 number to anybody over the phone and also only use it on web pages that you can clearly see as secure.

If someone places an order with me over the telephone, I have to take the 3 digit security number or I can not process the credit card payment.

The credit card machine asks for it, even though you tell it that the customer is not present, if you try and skip it, the payment is cancelled!

studioeng · Post by **studioeng** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:10 pm

I have a similar experience to this, but actually before these discs we're surposedly lost.

They phoned me to inform of some offer or something, and asked me to varify who I was etc; I told them I have no idea who they are, and I will not be telling them anything; to which they said they can't continue with the offer; to which I said, thank you have a nice day!

It could very well of been the bank; but it's better to be safe than sorry!

Post by **Martyn** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 10:07 pm

Alan wrote:
If someone places an order with me over the telephone, I have to take the 3 digit security number or I can not process the credit card payment.

The credit card machine asks for it, even though you tell it that the customer is not present, if you try and skip it, the payment is cancelled!

Correct, my mistake. Maybe I should have said not to give the number unless you can verify who you are giving it to ( e.g. you dialled the company on a well publicised number etc.)

Post by **thechief** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 10:39 pm

@Jim
Did this really happen to you, or are you repeating a story that you read somewhere?

Post by **Shotokan101** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 10:51 pm

thechief wrote:@Jim
Did this really happen to you, or are you repeating a story that you read somewhere?

It's "Viral Marketing" chief - a friend emailed me the text as a forwarded email dated 4th December 2007 which was purported to have been sent to a person at another company where her husband worked....

My stance was that it doesn't really matter - urban legend or urban warning - especially at this time of year - anything that reiterates the need for credit card security works for me

Post by **thechief** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 12:00 am

Ok, thx.

Post by **Martyn** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:45 pm

It went around my firm as well. Sent by the security officer no less

Post by **Shotokan101** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:04 pm

Good for Him - can't do any harm