Visa and Mastercard Scam?

[vbhoutex]

don't know if this is true but does not hurt to pass it on..........



Here is a credit card scam that is hitting our area. You might want to
pass along this email.

This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA &
MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared
to protect yourself. Thanks to Dr. Pat Cloney for passing this on.
Those con artists get more creative every day.

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 bank. Did you
purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 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 #" 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,"he needs 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 your card number, the next 3 are the 'Security
Numbers'that verify you are in possession of the card. These are the
numbers you use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card.
Read me the 3 numbers."

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 charge on our card.

Long story short, we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA
card,and they are reissuing us a new number. What the scammers 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 direct. 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
harder 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 friends. By informing each other, we
protect each other.

To me the bottom line is better safe than sorry-Don't ever give out card information unless you initiated the call/transaction.