A friend emailed me this. I did check it out on Snopes.com, a well-known site for collections of scams, rumors and urban legend. What I received was dated Nov. 28, 2012 but quite a bit of the wording, word for word, is on the Snopes sites and there it is dated 2003, quite a while ago. There was no information that this scam was especially active at this time, nor that it was not. The basic rule of not giving out information over the phone holds.
This message is a warning not to give 3 security digits out over the phone. According the information on the Snopes.com site, such numbers were first put on Mastercard in the late 1990's and on Visa cards in the first years of the 2000's, which more or less fits with the 2003 date.
Normally, I guess problems are taken up with the issuing bank, not Mastercard or Visa.
I happen to be listening to a course on critical thinking, the scientific method and deception, of all kinds: self deception, group deception and scientific fraud and error. Just because a scheme seems as though it would work does not mean that it is happening next door to me. The Snopes link has some interesting information on the criteria they use in deciding whether to post about something or not.
Bill
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http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp
Just a heads up for everyone regarding the latest in credit card fraud. Many of the major banks in the USA have received this communication about the newest scam. This is happening in the Midwest right now and moving. 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 basedin 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 glad we did! [That is, called the number on the card for theft and scams and other problems.]
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 Scammer 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 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 Scammer your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit; 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.
--
Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
Main web site: Kirbyvariety
This message is a warning not to give 3 security digits out over the phone. According the information on the Snopes.com site, such numbers were first put on Mastercard in the late 1990's and on Visa cards in the first years of the 2000's, which more or less fits with the 2003 date.
Normally, I guess problems are taken up with the issuing bank, not Mastercard or Visa.
I happen to be listening to a course on critical thinking, the scientific method and deception, of all kinds: self deception, group deception and scientific fraud and error. Just because a scheme seems as though it would work does not mean that it is happening next door to me. The Snopes link has some interesting information on the criteria they use in deciding whether to post about something or not.
Bill
==============================================================
Hi Folks:
Just a heads up for everyone regarding the latest in credit card fraud. Many of the major banks in the USA have received this communication about the newest scam. This is happening in the Midwest right now and moving. 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 basedin 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 glad we did! [That is, called the number on the card for theft and scams and other problems.]
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 Scammer 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 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 Scammer your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit; 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.
--
Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
Main web site: Kirbyvariety
