[Discuss] [Fwd: Fwd: Master card and visa scam]
Brij Charan
brijcharan at gmail.com
Fri Sep 1 22:58:27 PDT 2006
Nope, this is a hoax, been around a few times.
http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/hoaxes/hoaxDetails.asp?HName=Visa+%26+MasterCard+Fraud+Hoax&Page=4
But it's safe to say, don't give out your credit card number to anyone.
Also, for instance, when I got my new visa, there's clauses in the little
guide talking about how it's 'your' responsiblity to keep that number safe,
etc.
On 9/1/06, George Farris <farrisg at shaw.ca> wrote:
>
> Don't know if this is true or not but it always pays to be on the look
> out.
>
> -------- Forwarded Message --------
> > Subject: Fwd: Master card and visa scam
> > Date: Fri, 01 Sep 2006 09:28:10 -0700
> >
> > Just in case you haven't seen this. Jim
> >
> >
> > > Date: Fri, 01 Sep 2006 09:09:41 -0700
> > > From: R & G Bayley <rgbayley at shaw.ca>
> > > Subject: Master card and visa scam
> > > To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
> > > X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2869
> > > Original-recipient: rfc822;VE7JTR at shaw.ca
> > >
> > > This has been around before, I believe; but it won't do any
> > > harm to read it again.
> > > RB
> > >
> > > Subject: Master card and visa scam.
> > > This is happening in southern Alberta right now and moving.
> > >
> > > From The Medicine Hat City Police Dept.
> > >
> > > 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 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. We made a real fraud report
> > > and closed the VISA account. VISA is issuing 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. 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:
> > > ____________________________________________________________
> --
> George Farris
> farrisg at shaw.ca
>
>
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--
Brij Charan
Proud Supporter of the Alliance for the Oxygen intolerant.
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