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From: MaryW
Date: 01-21-2005, 01:14 PM (1 of 3)
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This was just sent from a list I am on. Good advice I think. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & Mastercard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'l be better prepared to protect yourself. Those con artists get more creative every day. 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 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 #" 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, "he needs 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 your card number, the next 3 are the 'Security Numbers' that verify you are in possession of the card. These are the numbers you use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. Read me the 3 numbers". 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 charge on on our card. Long story made short, we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA card, and they are reissuing us a new number. What the scammers wants 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 direct 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 harder 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 friends. By informing each other, we protect each other. Thank-You. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: sewingrandma
Date: 01-21-2005, 05:32 PM (2 of 3)
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It's awful the way people think up illegal ways to make money off innocent people. We shred everything now that has our address, phone number, anything with credit card numbers on them, bank numbers. We've contacted the different credit card companies to tell them not to send us their blank "checks". Anyone who intercepts your mail could fill them out and cash them. We no longer put mail into our mailbox for posting either, and have been seriously thinking of getting a Post Office box so mail won't be left unattended. People in our area have had mail stolen from their boxes and have had their identity stolen. We have had phone calls from the Credit card company checking on excessively large purchases and they don't ask for numbers they just want to confirm that we did in fact make a purchase. They didn't ask for dates or exact amounts. They told us the location and what was purchased. It is hard to keep one step ahead of those that make everyday dealings difficult.
Brockie
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User: sewingrandma
Member since: 03-06-2003 Total posts: 432 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 01-21-2005, 09:39 PM (3 of 3)
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We got a notice last year from our bank (in CA....we live in FL) stating that all the computers they use for personal info were stolen from the company our bank uses...so thousands of peoples personal info was stolen all at once. Luckily nothing of ours has been used (so far)...our bank made a point to put us on a watch list, (like they had a choice..) to make sure we have some protection now. (after the horse has left the barn....) Nothing and no ONE is safe anymore....from anything.. Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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