[Vision2020] credit card scam .....

bill london london@moscow.com
Fri, 11 Jun 2004 12:11:05 -0700


>>
>> Subject: VISA & MASTERCARD Telephone Credit 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.
>>
>> 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 charged 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 
>> t+he 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.
>>
>> Please pass this on to all your friends. By informing each other, we 
>> protect
>> each other. Thank-You.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Rob Kissler
>> Director Public Works
>> City of Keizer
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