johnny punkster Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Please pass on... from a friend: WARNING - SCAM ALERT!!! Please read the information below as this could save you being subjected to a scam. 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ackey Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Thanks JP, that's a sneaky one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bristolatic Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Thanks JP. Much appreciated. My debit card was scammed a fortnight ago by the scammers changing the password on my card protect system. God knows how they did that, but the bank were on to it PDQ and refunded the money (over £650) within 48 hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusoe Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 (edited) I thought it sounded a bit fishy, but it turns out it's not a hoax and worth reading. Sneaky stuff. Edited February 11, 2009 by Crusoe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yard Dog Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 This scam is actually an old one, but thanks all the same for putting the email up as I'd totally forgotten the details of this scam and could quite easily have seen myself falling victim to it - despite seeing this warning a few times in the past. I have a memory like a sieve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankly Mr Shankly Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I think it's pretty safe to assume anyone phoning you up claiming to be from your credit card company and asking for any details about your debit or credit card is a scam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footy68 Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 The people who I bank with never phone and never e-mail, they make it a well known fact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny punkster Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 my bank phoned often,but obviously no details regarding card numbers were took... but its a warning to folk who might be off guard because they ask for the security number-not the card number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky_Latic Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I think it's pretty safe to assume anyone phoning you up claiming to be from your credit card company and asking for any details about your debit or credit card is a scam. Yes, but some people are stupid and will do anything they're told. Which is why my mate who emails me from Zimbabwe wanting my details is onto a winner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny punkster Posted February 13, 2009 Author Share Posted February 13, 2009 Yes, but some people are stupid and will do anything they're told. Which is why my mate who emails me from Zimbabwe wanting my details is onto a winner. ....and our mutual friends in nigeria with his tied up money wanting to pay it into your bank account for safe keeping! really kind of them eh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bring Back Ronnie Moore Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Over the last month I became a victim of a clever scam while out shopping. Simply going out to get supplies has turned out to be quite traumatic. Don't be naive enough to think it couldn't happen to you Here's how the scam works: Two seriously good-looking 20-21 year-old girls come over to your car as you are packing your shopping into the boot. They both start wiping your windshield with a rag and windscreen cleaner, with their breasts almost falling out of skimpy T-shirts. It is impossible not to look. When you thank them and offer them a tip, they say "No" and instead ask you for a ride to a nearby location. You agree and they get in the back seat. On the way, they start having sex with each other. Then one of them climbs over into the front seat and performs oral sex on you, while the other one steals your wallet. I had my wallet stolen on January 4th, 9th, 10th, twice on the 15th, 17th, 20th, & 24th. Also February 1st - three times just yesterday and very likely again this coming weekend. So be careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny punkster Posted February 13, 2009 Author Share Posted February 13, 2009 Over the last month I became a victim of a clever scam while out shopping. Simply going out to get supplies has turned out to be quite traumatic. Don't be naive enough to think it couldn't happen to you Here's how the scam works: Two seriously good-looking 20-21 year-old girls come over to your car as you are packing your shopping into the boot. They both start wiping your windshield with a rag and windscreen cleaner, with their breasts almost falling out of skimpy T-shirts. It is impossible not to look. When you thank them and offer them a tip, they say "No" and instead ask you for a ride to a nearby location. You agree and they get in the back seat. On the way, they start having sex with each other. Then one of them climbs over into the front seat and performs oral sex on you, while the other one steals your wallet. I had my wallet stolen on January 4th, 9th, 10th, twice on the 15th, 17th, 20th, & 24th. Also February 1st - three times just yesterday and very likely again this coming weekend. So be careful. are thoses dinosaurs in the background? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_ragg1984 Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 are thoses dinosaurs in the background? It's not olden...its Golden! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny punkster Posted February 14, 2009 Author Share Posted February 14, 2009 It's not olden...its Golden! nah..rusty...the lasses are pretty much also.. the "scam" became an attraction and then electricity was discovered. boom "basil brush style" boom! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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