[Vision2020] VISA Scam

[Tom Trail]

>Visionaires--this story about a VISA scam is worth reading.


Tom Trail

>
>
>MAJOR HEADS UP./  THIS IS A PRETTY SOPHISTICATED SCAM!
>
>HEADS UP!!
>
>Subject: FW: This is for real..............be sure to read
>
>
>WARNING...New Credit Card Scam
>
>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.
>
>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 of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for
>$477.99
>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 next 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 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 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.
>
>Long story made short - 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 to 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.
>
>Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing  each
>other, we protect each other.


-- 
Dr. Tom Trail
International Trails
1375 Mt. View Rd.
Moscow, Id. 83843
Tel:  (208) 882-6077
Fax:  (208) 882-0896
e mail ttrail at moscow.com