Visa scamming

scottishsue

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2007
Messages
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DH got sent this from his Head Office

I have been sent the below and asked to add to this bulletin board. I do receive alot of emails regarding various scams and although this one below may not happen quite as it describes it is a reminder to us all to always be vigilant with our personal details, especially when receiving phone calls and emails requesting for information. As the below says, if you have any doubt, do not give informaiton to someone and advise that you will call your bank or credit card company back using a number you know to confirm that it is correct.



This one is pretty slick since they provide Y O U 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 based in London?" 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 0800 number listed on the back of your card (0800-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 - 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 MasterCard 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 .
 
Hi Sue, I have been told of this before it is so scary:scared1: There are some awful people out there, its really annoying:mad:
 

I seen this one before but it's certainly worthy of a reminder. It's amazing the levels people will go to part you from YOUR money.
 
Thanks for the reminder Sue.
 
wow, i am very glad i read this, thanks for posting it:eek:
 
Thanks for posting this Sue, I'm going to email to everyone I know.
 
Amazing how inventive they can be.

I have always gone on the basis that if anyone calls me and asks me things I don't give them the answer. Especially when they are asking you to verify to them that you have the card, in reality (and we've had a few instances of genuine calls) they will give you all the info. They will quote places you have spent money and will only ask you if you have it, never ask for any info off the card.
 
I have never understood how the security number on the back of the card totally works. As soon as I have made a phone purchase and I have quoted that number and it is no longer secure. I know it will stop any Tom, Dick and Harry from using my credit card number if they find a payment slip but I have to rely on the honesty of the telesales person to keep the info safe.

Libby
 
I have always gone on the basis that if anyone calls me and asks me things I don't give them the answer.

Same here. As soon as somebody calls me now I straight away politely tell them we have a household policy of not giving out any personal information on the phone. It never ceases to amaze me how many companies (including banks etc) still call and ask for this information though. Over the years it has lead to some quite heated discussions :rotfl:
 














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