Credit Card Scam

Hodges sent this warning to me and think you need
to be aware of this current scam.

I have checked at Snopes.com and if you click
the article's title you will go to their site to
read this same information.

Please pay strict attention to this announcement
and save yourself some financial heartache.

The remedy is to ask for that persons name,
department, phone number and extension. Hang up
and call them back to make sure. At any rate you
should report all of these call to your cards
security department and to the police.

Thanks, Hodges, for the heads up.

Subject: VISA & MASTERCARD Telephone Credit
Card Scam

This information is worth reading. By understanding
how the VISA & Mastercard Telephone Credit Card
Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect
yourself.

Person calling says, "this is , 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 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 on our card.

Long story made 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.

Thank-You

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

And Thank You Hodges for making us aware.

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Susan