Credit card scam

Len · 19-11-2004, 18:04

A friend of mine sent me this e-mail and I thought it might be of interest to other.

quote:

I received the following information from a member of staff and having had
a need to talk to visa last week on a similar incident, I can confirm that
this is happening. At this time of year approaching Christmas, please take
note and be aware:

"Please pass on to all people on your mailing list. I got this from a
contact in the Halifax Visa team so it is happening!!

Visa and MasterCard Scam.

A friend was called on the telephone this week from 'VISA' and I was
called on Thursday from 'MasterCard'.

It worked like this: Person calling says,

'This is Carl Patterson (any 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. Did you
purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Company a device/any expensive item, for
£3497.99 from a marketing company based in (any town?)

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 £3297 To £3497, just under
the £3500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next
statement, the credit will be sent to (they give 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 your card and ask for Security. You
will need to refer to this Control number. They then give you a 6-digit
number. 'Do you need me to read it again?'

Caller then says he 'needs to verify you are in possession of your card'

(this is where the scam takes place as up until now they have requested
nothing!).

They then ask you to turn your card over.

There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are 1234 (or whatever, as they have your
number anyway). The next 3 are the security numbers that verify that you
are in possession of the card' (these are the numbers they are really after
as these are the numbers you use to make internet purchases to prove you
have the card).

'Read me the 3 numbers.' When you do he says '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?

Don't hesitate to call back if you do.'

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card
number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we telephoned 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 £3497.99 WAS put on our card. Long story made short.

We made a real fraud report and closed the VISA card and they are reissuing
us a new number. What the scam wants is the 3-digit number and that once
the charge goes through, they keep changing every few days. By the time you
get your statement, you think the credit is coming, and then it's harder to
actually file a fraud report.

THE REAL VISA/MASTERCARD DEPARTMENT REINFORCED THE POINT THAT THEY WILL
NEVER ASK FOR ANYTHING ABOUT THE CARD SINCE THEY ALREADY KNOW EVERYTHING
ABOUT IT!!.

What makes this even more remarkable is that on Thursday I got a call from
'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), and they said they are taking several of
these reports daily and to tell friends, relatives and co-workers so please
pass this on to your friends......"

steveo · 20-11-2004, 11:28

****!!!!!!!!!!!

its amazing what the robbin gets can do now....is no one safe

Sparkologist · 20-11-2004, 12:29

Cheers for this info, Len.

This is a 'must read' for everyone. May I suggest you make this thread sticky for a while.

lettie · 20-11-2004, 12:41

I actually had the same e mail from a friend yesterday. Looks like bad news travels fast..

janet · 20-11-2004, 16:14

Thanks for the warning len.

Steven · 20-11-2004, 17:08

yeha thanks also len

ill be on the look out for these scammers and will tell all my friends and family cheers again

WillowTheWhisp · 20-11-2004, 18:05

Thanks for the warning Len

Mik Dickinson · 20-11-2004, 21:46

Good warning but giving out info like that over the telephone is summat i would not do.

Darby · 01-12-2004, 15:14

Just got this from a mate in London:

I have just been warned about this, and could potentially be financially fatal so close to Christmas.

A friend was called on the telephone this week by 'VISA' and I was called by 'MasterCard'.

It worked like this: Person calling says, 'this is Carl Patterson (any name) and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA/Mastercard .
My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. Did you purchase (any expensive item) for e.g. £497.99 from (a company) based in (any town) ?

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 £299 to £499, just under the £500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (they give 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 your card and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control number. They then give you a 6-digit number. 'Do you need me to read it again?
Caller then says he 'needs to verify you are in possession of your card' (this is where the scam takes place as up until now they have requested nothing!). They then ask you to turn your card over.
'There are 7 numbers: the last 3 are the security numbers that verify that you are in possession of the card' (these are the numbers they are really after as these are the numbers you use to make internet purchases to prove you have the card).
'Read me the 3 numbers.' When you do he says '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?
Don't hesitate to call back if you do.'

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number - because they already have it, they just don't have the 3-digit security number!
But after we were called on Wednesday, we telephoned 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 put on our card. Long story made short.
We made a real fraud report and closed the VISA card and they are reissuing us a new number. What the scam wants is the 3-digit number and once a charge goes through, they keep charging varying amounts every few days. By the time you get your statement, it's harder to actually file a fraud report

carole · 01-12-2004, 15:50

Good information, will be aware. Friends of mine were victims of the 'lebanese loop' atYorkshire bank in accy. Luckily there was not much money in the account and they were just requesting a statement.

It pays to be alert.

WillowTheWhisp · 01-12-2004, 16:43

Darby, your email sounds almost identical to the one Len posted in the opening of this thread.

Len · 01-12-2004, 17:10

Sorry Darby.

You had duplicated this thread in “General chat” so I have moved and merged the two threads because you had replies to your post. Feel free to delete your post if you so desire.

Also I have removed and started a new thread titled “shredders” as there were a few posts on the subject and I thought they would be better with their own thread.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/s...ead.php?t=6651

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