I received this information & wanted to share it as so many of us do online/phone order shopping. We can never be too careful or cautious. I hope it's okay that I posted it here.
This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA &
> Mastercard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to
> protect yourself. Thanks to Dr. Pat Clooney for passing this on.
> 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 , 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 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 #" 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 n umbers". 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 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 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 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 too 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.
>
> By informing each other, we protect each other.
This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA &
> Mastercard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to
> protect yourself. Thanks to Dr. Pat Clooney for passing this on.
> 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 , 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 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 #" 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 n umbers". 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 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 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 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 too 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.
>
> By informing each other, we protect each other.
