WATCH OUT - NEW Visa / MasterCard FRAUD

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

This happened to some friends of ours so I thought I would pass this along to the BCA membership so they can be aware of the latest scam.


"Just a heads up for everyone regarding the latest in Visa fraud.
Royal Bank received this communication about the newest scam. This is
happening in the Midwest right now and moving this way.

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 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 last 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 last 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
were 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. 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 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. I dealt with a similar situation this morning,
with the caller telling me that $3,097 had been charged to my account for
plane tickets to Spain , and so on through the above routine...

It appears that this Is a very active scam, and evidently quite
successful.

Pass this on to all your family and friends"

If you get a call like this, remember NOT to ever give out the 3 number security code on the back of your card.

Anthony

[pieces71]

thanks for the heads up

[InfraredDream]

Thanks a lot for the information. Something like that happened to me a few months ago. They said I won a trip to.. don't remember, Disney for example and just wanted to verify it was me indeed. What shocked and scared me was they knew my name, address, credit card number. How is that possible? Where they get this information from?
Thanks again!

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

That's the scary thing about these new credit card scams. They know enough info to make the average person believe it is from the cc company, but they're really fishing for your 3 digit security code. NEVER, EVER give that out to someone who calls you or emails you. NO credit card company ever asks for that because they know it already.

[thefishwife]

Thanks Anthony. I hope you don't mind, but I would like to copy and paste this and put it up on some other forums and facebook.

[davefrombc]

The scammers can easily get your credit card information simply by looking in the garbage for discarded credit card slips. There also have been breaches of security in credit clearing houses where thousands of card users information has been stolen .. There are underground organizations that sell credit card numbers and information to scammers. It is relatively easy to get CC information, but that 3 number confirmation on the back of the card is not held in any of the data bases, or noted on receipts. It is only used for phoned in or online transactions to verify the card holder. That is why the scammer asks you for the number . They need it to make a large purchase with your card number.
As Anthony said , never give that number, or any other credit information, including verifying your number to anyone that phones or e-mails you about your banking or credit cards . Always refuse , either politely or otherwise, and then contact your bank or credit card company directly by a phone number or URL you know is your legitimate contact with them . Do NOT click on anything in the e-mail claiming to be from the institution, or go to any URL or phone number they give , no matter how legitimate it looks . Always close the e-mail, and call your bank or CC issuer by the number they give you for their customer service. It is on your credit card, on your bank statements, or in the phone book.

[Captured Moments]

A while back I got a call on my cellphone claiming that I had won a trip for two on a cruise all inclusive. Being suspicious in nature to everything in general that sounds too good, I started asking too many questions and they hung up...I am sure they would have asked me for credit card pin, personal info.. etc..

[chiefwonton]

A while back I got a call on my cellphone claiming that I had won a trip for two on a cruise all inclusive. Being suspicious in nature to everything in general that sounds too good, I started asking too many questions and they hung up...I am sure they would have asked me for credit card pin, personal info.. etc..

I get that call once a month, i dont know how they got my number.

[effox]

I get that call once a month, i dont know how they got my number.

Usually hackers breaching databases, it's got all your information on there as a customer. They then sell it off for profit and less risk to other shady people, then the scammers use that information to illicit the missing info from unsuspecting victims for credit fraud.

Cheers,
Chris

[teija]

It is getting pretty scary with how easy it is for people to scam. I had a credit card cancelled last year by the card issuer, and they sent me a new one. Sounds like there was a "strange charge" on it (which I never saw as they promptly removed it)... And yet we keep using credit cards more and more in our daily lives...