CREDIT CARD SCAM- THIS IS WELL THOUGHT OUT

Never give out the three digit security code on the back of your card.

PLEASE READ - Credit card scam
[Wincentsen, Jeff] skip to the end (wordy) 

Verified on snopes: http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp

 

Subject : Credit Card Scam!!

The Holiday Season is just a little bit down the road and the bad guys
are already trying to get free stuff by using your credit. I just received
this so thought I'd forewarn you and forward it on. 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.

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 you 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 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 this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a
"Jason Richardson of Master Card" 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.

Praveen's blogs:

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