I received this from a friend and believe it to be useful for all my boomer friends.


Subject: Re: Fwd: New Credit Card Scam


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 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 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 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 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.

Be Alert and safe!

Good Lord, can you just imagine the amount of poor unsuspecting people that will fall for this one? I wonder what the punishment is when and if these people are ever caught. Thanks Songbird.

Don't know if any of you use PayPal but I've recently been receiving what looks like legitimate email from someone and says there is a security issue with my account and to go to the link they provided but when you do, and log in with your password, they have it and it isn't really PayPal, just looks like it. So, I've been on the phone this morning straightening out this mess. They said to only type in PayPal.com on your web browser so you'll know you have the right site. Just wanted to pass this along to save you the problem. I had to change credit cards and everything. What a hassle.

I also just read an article in the Police Gazette warning people to only put their initals on topm of their checks...For me I put C.C.M. It says do that in case some identity thief gets a hold of your checkbook they won't know what your name is so can't forge any checks. What a world!

Great idea. Never heard it before. I wouldn't think initials would be enough, but glad to hear it is.

Dianne, I receive that junk all the time. I believe you forward it to spoof@paypal.com. Anyone else heard of that procedure?

I received something from Amazon.com the other day telling me that someone tried to purchase with my account and for security reasons I needed to go and update it.

I smelled a rat and I just deleted that piece of junkmail. I don't have any account from any credit card there. Now whether it was legitimate or not, I don't know, but I didn't need to update anything, and I didn't want to take a chance.

Cheers,
Cathi

The guy at PayPal told me to not only delete it but then, empty my deleted folder as well.

Chatty: about the checks, do you mean-when you order your checks- to only use your initials? That's a great idea! Too bad I just had my order made a couple weeks ago.

Dianne, have you had any other problems with Paypal? I'm considering using it on my website-to-be.

We need to be ever so careful! Thanks

No, I haven't had any problems with them. It's just the scammers out there that make it difficult on everyone. And yes, you forward any suspicious emails to spoof@paypal.com Sadly, I learned this the hard way.