This is from a friend in AR. Just thought it was true enough to pass along. Glenn Subject: Fw: Charge card scam > > > > > > 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 Cloney 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 <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 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 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 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 wants 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. > > > >