[Vision2020] Fwd: Fw: New Credit Card Scam

Thu Jun 29 08:04:36 PDT 2006

All credit cards are scams.

  _DJA

Tom Trail <ttrail at moscow.com> wrote:    Fwd: Fw: New Credit Card Scam  
  Visionaries--this new credit card scam  was sent to me by a constituent.  

      Rep. Tom Trail  

  Subject: FW: New Credit Card Scam

---------------------------------

    This one  is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information,  except the one piece they want.

  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.

  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 Marketi ng 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.
  I checked this out on snopes.com

  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 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.  
  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
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