Credit Card Scam

This has been passed on via another Force area through our own
Fraud Department In Wiltshire Constabulary, and it is a very
convincing SCAM. We have been asked to disseminate the
information as widely and was quickly as we can through
Neighbourhood Watch, School Safe and others.
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 .