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Credit/ Debit Card Scam
November 2010
Ok, technically this isn't a
computer scam but it's genuine and pretty convincing, so please feel free to
pass details of this webpage to your friends and family.
This has
been passed on via another Force area through our own Fraud Department In
Wiltshire Constabulary, and it is a very convincing SCAM. We have been asked to
disseminate the information as widely and was quickly as we can through
Neighbourhood Watch, School Safe and others.
This one is pretty
slick since they provide YOU 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.
Please don't be caught
out.
Graham
