VISA SCAM::Worth a read

[steveindenmark]

This is a bit long but worth reading.

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 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.

Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each
other, we protect each other.

 

[Andz]

It is called the CVV number and it is the one security feature that separates you from bankruptcy. On an American Express card it is 4 digits printed on the front of the card. I am instantly suspicious of any such calls.

 

[08fz6]

First thing that would have turned me off here would have been someone calling me. Any time i get these they dont ask for any info they ask if its me etc. and it is automated. It says the different charges that are suspicious and you say yes or no and if no then it sends you to a person to verify, but you never give any numbers.

 

[Nelly]

This is a very slick confidence trick indeed. Thanks for posting.
Since we moved over to Ireland I have had three calls from the real visa / master card fraud department. Each time the call was flagged up for unusual activity (we moved country lol) I was never asked for any information other than my name and address, the usual data protection stuff.
They were able to tell me what my last purchase was and where. The call was also followed with a letter.

Nelly

PS This might make a good thread "Scams"

This was happening a few months ago in the really cold weather. Basically you get in your car. Turn it on to de-frost it and you notice a white A5 sized sticker on your rear window. Its right in the spot your using to view through as you reverse. Because its cold you don't switch the engine off, but you have to get out to remove it [sticker]. While your removing it some bugger distracts you by asking for the time or dropping a few coins. Their accomplice jumps in and drives off with your motor. The real bummer is that your insurance won't cover the cost because you left the key in the ignition.