Credit Card Scam

Redrum · 16-03-2006, 11:37 AM

Subject: New Credit Card Scam

Be Warned
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.

Ringo · 16-03-2006, 12:53 PM

C'mon Redrum...your a copper....you believe this email myth.

I get this stuff all the time, and eveyone swears their thing is true.

Have you had people presenting at stations reporting this scam

Redrum · 16-03-2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ringo

C'mon Redrum...your a copper....you believe this email myth.

I get this stuff all the time, and eveyone swears their thing is true.

Have you had people presenting at stations reporting this scam

I have not heard of this particular "myth" being presented before a police station, but it was forwarded to me by a Senior Sergeant after it was confirmed to be true to him. I let the readers be the judge. For information purposes. If one were only to post facts on this forum, the posting levels would be way down.........

I have had other scams reported to me from the internet etc

RSgerry · 18-03-2006, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ringo

C'mon Redrum...your a copper....you believe this email myth.

I get this stuff all the time, and eveyone swears their thing is true.

Have you had people presenting at stations reporting this scam

I work in the finance industry and this one is not a myth. What hapens after the scammer finishes calling you is that they then deibt $497.99 to your account. This shows up on your next statement and you do nothing about it because "Visa" have already spoken to you. It then shows up on the following statement and that is when people alert their card provider, and then it is too late.

I work for a small credit union and we call customers when there are a number of transactions on the same day to confirm that they performed the transactions. However, all we ask is 'did you do these'? Nothing more. It gives us the opportunity to stop a lot of fraud before it goes too far.

big_waity · 16-03-2006, 01:13 PM

Most of the stuff that you get emailed is a scam. Mass emailing, known as "SPAM" is the worst form of contact in the world. Really annoys me the way that people think it works and that any email they receive that says "Important, send this to everyone you have ever spoken to" must be true. I personally am sick of receiving crappy email after crappy email.

Everyone knows that you never give your credit card detials to anyone who rings you. If you don't know this then you have broken the law by signing the credit card contract without reading the details.

Comeon people. Surely we are all smarter than this...

MYVYSS · 16-03-2006, 02:21 PM

Thanks for the Heads up....However they cant spend what isnt available...Thank God my missus spends worse than those thieving bastards...

DJL351 · 16-03-2006, 02:34 PM

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

Redrum · 16-03-2006, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJL351

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

Thanks man!

rodderz · 16-03-2006, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MYVYSS

Thanks for the Heads up....However they cant spend what isnt available...Thank God my missus spends worse than those thieving bastards...

lol...aint that the truth!

BA_Turbs · 17-03-2006, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodderz

lol...aint that the truth!

:hihi: That is great. It actually had me LOL, not just typing it!

347_XR8 · 16-03-2006, 11:47 PM

Redrum, i gotta say. You a great help round here giving us heads up on stuff like this. Keep up the good work mate!

chief · 17-03-2006, 02:44 AM

Thanks redrum for the heads up. Only yesterday a friend got a call about her VISA, and being the person she is. Hung up and called VISA directly and was told it was a scam.

Pedro · 17-03-2006, 08:25 AM

I got a new AMEX card a couple of weeks ago and a similar phone call before I received the card. The caller said :-
"Congratulations, your application has been successful, you will receive your card shortly, in the mean time we need to confirm some details."
I said "You've got all the details or you wouldn't have issued the card."
They hung up.

Penelope Pitstop · 17-03-2006, 09:13 AM

In the past I have worked in the credit card section of one of the major banks this type of stuff does happen every day. I have sat at my computer and watched someones entire account get wiped in the blink of an eye. The important thing to remember is this - the bank will never ever ring and ask you to provide them with details, they may ring to ask you to verify a transaction but they will not ask you to provide information about your card no's or pins etc. If in doubt - ring them back... real bank employees will not care if you refuse them information and want to call them back - they understand.

Thanks for the heads up

MAD · 17-03-2006, 09:29 AM

Thanks for the heads up. I'll be warning a few people about this one.

Redrum · 17-03-2006, 03:43 PM

Today some poor person entered Keilor Downs Police Station. They had via dodgie emails got linked up to false ebay and purchased item (750$). Of course when they never received it, they came to us. All print outs had ebay logo on them and looked the genuine item. Personally I recommend all emails in relation to ebay be ignored. Go to their website only and use messenger service.

Disco1986 · 18-03-2006, 02:11 PM

please PM me with credit card details!!! I will then make it so your account wont be stolen!

Disco1986 · 27-03-2006, 10:38 PM

sorry for the stupid replay

Scott · 27-03-2006, 10:45 PM

Ahhh, always refreshing to see an opportunist plying his trade!

NC 5ltr · 27-03-2006, 11:40 PM

another good tip is not to leave your car unlocked with the keys in the ignition, it might get stolen!