I received this today and thought I would pass it on. I tried to confirm the truth of this and can provide this information:
Quote: Are there known instances of this occurring? -- We talked with a representative of MasterCard, who told us that although she couldn't verify the specific details of the message reproduced above, this type of scam does occur and isn't new; it's been going on ever since MasterCard started putting CVC2 security codes on all its cards back in 1997. (Visa put CVV2 codes on all its credit cards until 2001.) She also reiterated that MasterCard would not ask a cardholder to disclose security codes or provide any information verifying physical possession of a card; any such inquiries regarding security matters would come from the financial institution that issued the credit card, not from MasterCard itself.
. More info is available at
http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.aspWhat I received follows here:
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Subject: New Credit Card Scam
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 10:00:24 -070.
WARNING... New Credit Card Scam.
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.
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 i.
12460 your card has been flagged fo.
an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card whic.
was issued by (name of 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, th.
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 ar.
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 made 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 to 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 R . 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.
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This is probably not a factual report, but the possibility is real. Read the info on the link provided above.
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New Credit Card Scam (Read 4430 times)
