Visa / Mastercard scam .................

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Serge

Visa / Mastercard scam .................

Post by Serge »

Just found this on another Forum, so thought I would display it on here just in case anyone gets the call .......................

I am usually quite vigilant when it comes to stuff like this, but this one is quite a clever one that seems like it could catch out even the sensible amongst us ............

Quote:
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 pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each other, we protect each other.
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polremy
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Post by polremy »

Thanks for that, Serge!!
I agree, it is very plausible and I might have fallen for it but won't now.

ps. What do I owe you?
Serge

Post by Serge »

polremy wrote:Thanks for that, Serge!!
I agree, it is very plausible and I might have fallen for it but won't now.

ps. What do I owe you?
Happy to have been of assistance Pol ...............


... just the last three numbers from the back of your card will do .......... :wink:
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polremy
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Post by polremy »

999
Serge

Post by Serge »

Thought yours would have been 666 .............
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collioure_bee
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Post by collioure_bee »

Thanks for that serge.

The giveaway is the way they say "that is correct" to your three digit number. NOBODY knows that, it is not kept on accessable records as I found out when Nationwide had to send me a new card because my three numbers had been input wrong and my card wouldn't work with online or phone purchases.
"She knew the price of everything, but the value of nothing"

If it's hard to do, it's not worth doing.
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Marguerite & Steve
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Post by Marguerite & Steve »

Thanks for that info Serge....someone like me would have been gullible, as one day I will tell you how stupid I was when asked a few questions online... :oops: :oops: :oops:
Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can't change.
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Santiago
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Post by Santiago »

With these kind of scams becoming more frequent, and the ease of making an online purchase with minimal information, I can see a higher level of passwording being applied to all credit cards. Lloyds already have an extra level of security that prevents online purchases without entering a further password.

To be honest, I thought those online purchases that only require information that can be seen on the card were processed through agencies like Verisign and PayPal who can block the receivers account if notified.
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Robert Ferrieux
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Post by Robert Ferrieux »

from Helen

Thank you, Serge. Very helpful.

Of course I would never fall for such a scam (!), but some-one not a million miles from me most certainly would! :roll:
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