E
eltan
Guest
Emailed from friend...
When I received this email, I phoned Natalie Kent at the Local Government
Association of Queensland (phone 07 3000 2239), and verified the accuracy of
the content. Natalie confirmed this scam is real, and not a hoax email. This
information is worth reading.
By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works,
you'll be better prepared to protect yourself. Con artists get more creative
every day.... My spouse 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
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 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 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, "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 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 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 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.
Natalie Kent Manager, Finance, Governance and Community Local Government
Association of Queensland 25 Evelyn Street, Newstead PO Box 2230, Fortitude
Valley BC Brisbane QLD 4000
When I received this email, I phoned Natalie Kent at the Local Government
Association of Queensland (phone 07 3000 2239), and verified the accuracy of
the content. Natalie confirmed this scam is real, and not a hoax email. This
information is worth reading.
By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works,
you'll be better prepared to protect yourself. Con artists get more creative
every day.... My spouse 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
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 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 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, "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 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 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 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.
Natalie Kent Manager, Finance, Governance and Community Local Government
Association of Queensland 25 Evelyn Street, Newstead PO Box 2230, Fortitude
Valley BC Brisbane QLD 4000