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Latest Credit Card Scam - please read
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| endless_summer |
Please read below for the details of the scam. I got this in a forwarded e-mail and it looked like the e-mail originated from one of the major banks.
This is happening in southern Alberta right now and moving.
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 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 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 last 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 last 3 number 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.
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 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. I dealt with a similar situation this morning, with the
caller telling me that $3,097 had been charged to my account for plane
tickets to Spain , and so on through the above routine.
It appears that this Is a very active scam, and evidently quite successful.
Pass this on to all your family and friends |
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| *~LiSa-LoO~* |
When I bought my airfare for Holland, I bought my laptop the same week. There was a problem at the store however, and I returned the laptop and bought it again right after with a printer. I was called shortly after by VISA, and they left a message on my phone saying that they were not going to authorize the payments until I verified the purchases.
I contacted them back right away, thus I can speak from experience, that they do not ask you for any numbers from your credit card. As you mentioned...they issued the card, they don't need them.
If I recall correctly I explained to them that I made the purchases - the mix up at the store, and I think I gave them my name, birthday and postal code. |
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| Cro_Addict |
| quote: | Originally posted by endless_summer
Pass this on to all your family and friends |
Or you will have bad luck for 9 years. And you will never date again in your life!
On a serious note, thats pretty ed up. Thanks for the heads up! |
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| kotsy |
Oh boy, they're so crafty aren't they?
My mother works for CIBC bank fraud and is constantly given me warnings and tips on how to avoid fraud. It's amazing how many people (like my mom) have a full time job just in Toronto in dealing with constant fraud. |
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| spitty |
| maybe i didn't read this properly, but i'm confused. how did they have my visa number in the first place? if i only tell them the 3 digits, where do they get the other 16 from? |
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| geroin |
| quote: | Originally posted by spitty
maybe i didn't read this properly, but i'm confused. how did they have my visa number in the first place? if i only tell them the 3 digits, where do they get the other 16 from? |
there are various ways of obtaining the number beforehand, they usually get it when you purchase something in a store or you could get phished online (there are many more ways). Because your name is on it they find the number. Later on they get somebody to call and get the 3 numbers on the back because without them buying something online is useless
there is total of 7 numbers, first 4 numbers on the back of your card are the last 4 numbers on the front, the other 3 are unique, once they get them voila. |
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| TheVrk |
| quote: | Originally posted by geroin
there are various ways of obtaining the number beforehand, they usually get it when you purchase something in a store or you could get phished online (there are many more ways). |
Many, many ways...
This is ed |
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| monishb |
| quote: | Originally posted by spitty
maybe i didn't read this properly, but i'm confused. how did they have my visa number in the first place? if i only tell them the 3 digits, where do they get the other 16 from? |
the article is a little mislead , but i think what they are saying is the CCV 3 digit number on the back of the card, and the 4 digit CID # if its a Amex card.
They may have already got your number from other sources such as garbage, recipts bills etc thrown out as simple as that. or just could have copied it down while you were not seeing, or as someone said earlier just online phishing /purchases you made at stores. actually many ways. |
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| Abercrombie |
| The CCVs/CIDs on cards are as good as PINs, as informed on the documents you received when you got your cards. Use them as such. |
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| StereoPrincess |
man, that's a scam and a half.
they can also get your number from bills that you have thrown out without ripping them. |
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| activate |
| quote: | Originally posted by Abercrombie
The CCVs/CIDs on cards are as good as PINs, as informed on the documents you received when you got your cards. Use them as such. |
No.
They also need your expiry date in order to make online purchases.
The expiry date can only be found on your actual card or on the banks systems. so unless you give them the expiry date or they work for the bank they won't have it and won't be able to make any purchases. they can take a guess but unless they got it on the first try they'd be out of luck. there are systems in place to flag things like that.. unusual purchases, amounts and multiple trys for purchases that are declined. this goes for credit cards and bank cards.
I work in Visa for a major bank |
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| DigiNut |
How do people fall for these things, anyway?
It's really simple: no company with whom you have an account will ever call or e-mail YOU to verify your identity. They already did that when you signed up. If you ever do get a call from someone claiming to be your bank, credit bureau, insurance company, etc., and they ask you for any information that you wouldn't ordinarily give out to a total stranger, ask them for their name or extension and tell them that you'll call them right back at the official number. If it's legitimate, they should have no problem with this.
Just following this one simple rule will avoid virtually every scam. Get an e-mail from "Paypal?" Just go to their site, using the address you know, don't click on any links in the e-mail. Get a phone call from the bank or CC issuer? Call them right back on their 800 number or local branch.
Once I had some weirdo come directly to my door and ask to see my utility bills - I can't remember what his spiel was - anyway I said I was busy and that if he gave me a way to reach him at the company, I'd call back with the information he wanted. Of course he wouldn't, made some lame excuses for why it had to be right now. Dead giveaway that it was a scam. Or maybe some door-to-door marketing nonsense, which is equally bad.
Just don't give any secret information to anyone at all, ever, unless you yourself have initiated the conversation at an endpoint (site, phone number, physical location, etc.) that you know and trust. It's very hard to get scammed that way. |
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