WARNING! Credit card scam

[Space cat]

I just read this from our local forum. I thought it best to pass it on to as wide an audience as possible:

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 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.

 

[Shutpa]

Thanks for that Space Cat. Forewarned is forearmed!

 

[Steve]

These scammers, then . . . they MUST have all your front-of-card details already, in order to contact you and know all the above. All they are phoning for is the CCV number. People affected by this "scam" must have been careless with their card, thats all I can say. And to have TWO cards affected - well, just shows the author's stupidity, really, doesn't it?

Never let your card out of your site. It is very easy for resteraunt workers, checkout cashiers, etc, to photograph your card while it is being processed. If they are clever they will photo both sides and then they can make online purchases. If it is for payment of an invoice, they even have your address with which they can then fool most online security services!

Until recently, our "store copy" of credit card txns had the full card number on it. The software on the tills has since been upgraded to asterisk it out, as on the customer copy.

 

[Thermo]

restaurants are notorious for it. I was sitting in a restuarant the other day when they passed me the chip and pin hand held device to put the number in. Looked up and i was being looked down on by their cctv system. Needless to say i commented on it and moved!

Also our local tesco petrol station had a great idea of putting a whopping great lcd tv on the wall linked in to the cctv system so you could see yourself on the tv. As could evryone behind you as you put your pin number in. Suffice to say its not there anymore

 

[Softus]

I just read this from our local forum. I thought it best to pass it on to as wide an audience as possible

The 'scam' that you've posted has all the hallmarks of a hoax.

 

[joe-90]

I must say I thought the very same thing as Softus.

 

[JohnD]

I need to warn you of a terrible method of theft used in my town.

two scantily clad young ladies wait at a bus stop after dark.

being a gentleman, you might stop and offer them a lift.

When they get in your car, the one in the front seat puts her hand on your leg and suggests you might like to stop in a lay-by.

When you stop, she starts snogging you and rubbing up against you.

After they've both got out, you realise that while you were distracted, the other one reached into your pocket and stole your wallet.

Last week, they robbbed me on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Thursday it was raining and they weren't at the usual bus stop.

 

[Shutpa]

I must say I thought the very same thing as Softus.

Viz, a hoax?

 

[securespark]

No, I find it quite a genuine adult comic.

 

[libby lou lou]

I need to warn you of a terrible method of theft used in my town.

two scantily clad young ladies wait at a bus stop after dark.

being a gentleman, you might stop and offer them a lift.

When they get in your car, the one in the front seat puts her hand on your leg and suggests you might like to stop in a lay-by.

When you stop, she starts snogging you and rubbing up against you.

After they've both got out, you realise that while you were distracted, the other one reached into your pocket and stole your wallet.

Last week, they robbbed me on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Thursday it was raining and they weren't at the usual bus stop.

Sorry John, we were at the trafford centre on thursday.

 

[^neo^]

I need to warn you of a terrible method of theft used in my town.

two scantily clad young ladies wait at a bus stop after dark.

being a gentleman, you might stop and offer them a lift.

When they get in your car, the one in the front seat puts her hand on your leg and suggests you might like to stop in a lay-by.

When you stop, she starts snogging you and rubbing up against you.

After they've both got out, you realise that while you were distracted, the other one reached into your pocket and stole your wallet.

Last week, they robbbed me on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Thursday it was raining and they weren't at the usual bus stop.

Sorry John, we were at the trafford centre on thursday.

Where is this bus stop again?

 

[tim west]

I'm having a case of deja-vue wth this thread and its replies??

Anyhow, even if purchases are made are they not bound by rules to send the purchase to the cardholder's address? especially new customers? So you can send back the stuff if you've been a victim of fraud.

 

[Space cat]

The 'scam' that you've posted has all the hallmarks of a hoax.

That's always a possibility but the concept is valid wherever it came from. It fits the profile of credit card scams in that it's technically possible and relatively easy to pull off. There are lots of gullible people out there ready to believe a plausible tale, especially if they think they're getting money back!

It isn't difficult to get hold of the details on the front of a credit card. Think of all the places you might have used your card: shops, banks, pubs, car parks? Perhaps you've also used it to pay for stuff on line or over the phone. In theory, your card details shouldn't be passed on to anybody else but some people are careless and others are dishonest. Perhaps you're one of the careless ones yourself and there's a credit card statement in your dustbin right now! Many years ago I regularly chucked old statements in the bin until our other half, who works for a bank, pointed out the potential risks.

Anyhow, even if purchases are made are they not bound by rules to send the purchase to the cardholder's address?

This is true and, until the the extra three digits were added, it was the only security you had if you didn't present the actual card and sign something but a mobile phone network once came unstuck when they accepted credit cards over the phone for topping up PAYG phones. Delivery address! What delivery address - and who's phone is it anyway?

I must say that this is the one bit of the scam that I can't follow. How do you use a card you haven't got to obtain something at someone else's expense?

 

[Shutpa]

No, I find it quite a genuine adult comic.

 

[Mw Roofline]

I just read this from our local forum. I thought it best to pass it on to as wide an audience as possible

The 'scam' that you've posted has all the hallmarks of a hoax.

I was just about to agree with you until I checked


Why on earth someone would give out their details to a stranger they don't know over the telephone just beggars belief

These kind of people fall into the same category as those that spend a pound a time on telephone votes to "i'm a celebrity"