Please read

[NoMercy]

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?"

[NoMercy]

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?"

[NoMercy]

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.

Please pass this on to all your family and friends.

[squarebear]

This hoax is 2 years old
http://www.sophos.com..._mastercard_scam.html

[afcjan]

omg thats scary and quite clever, will pass this info on. Thanks Sine Pietate.

[squarebear]

Don't pass this on. It's a hoax. Surely people put a few words into google to see if it's genuine?

[pericat]

I will certainly do that - thanks NoM

[NoMercy]

It is not a hoax. It was sent to me by a friend who works for the Hereford Council, I spoke to her and she fell for this scam.

[squarebear]

How come it's word for word the same as the hoax then. Your friend or you are liening.
Here's a different link to another site saying it's a hoax:
http://www.hoax-slaye...curity-code-scam.html

[another-view]

NoM, this has been doing the rounds for years. It isn't true.

Visa and MasterCard officials "know of no specific person who's been scammed according to the story outlined in the e-mail".

[carrot99]

so it's not a card scam it's a chain letter scam, from squarebear's link:

Visa and MasterCard telephone credit card scam
Type
Chain letter
Description: In 2007, the following email was widely spread across the internet, warning of a new telephone scam.

So it's just a chain letter doing the rounds again.

[ChuckFickens]

and another

http://www.snopes.com...rnings/creditcard.asp

[redcrx]

surely if real it would explain how anyone would have your phone number and your 16 digit card number etc.

sorry Sine Pietate, i know you were posting for the right reasons but its just not true.

[squarebear]

Any email that says, "Please pass this on to all your family and friends. " is usually a good sign that it's a hoax.

[brenda]

I don't know if the original post is true or not , but the whole thing has alerted me to be lot more vigilant with my cards than I am at present, so thank you.

[Charisse2]

I do recall this scam from a while ago and it does serve as a reminder to not give any information to anyone purporting to be from Visa, Mastercard or your bank.

As a matter of interest, you say that your friend fell for the scam. Did the police/fraud investigator advise how the scammer knew your friends name, telephone number, 16digit card number etc? As that would be a worry.

[NoMercy]

Squarebear, whether or not this was a mere hoax 2 years back is immaterial - the fact is it is a very current scam. Neither my friend nor I are liars. She is a claims officer and a part-time payroll clerk, so this is not really her style. I would recommend people contact their local police if they are worried and in the meantime, be extra vigilant. To suggest that people just ignore it and don't warn other's is irresponsible and immature. If you want to ignore it, please do so, but don't tell others to ignore it.

[squarebear]

Visa and MasterCard officials "know of no specific person who's been scammed according to the story outlined in the e-mail". Did your friend actually contact anyone? And the chances that they had exactly the same amount of money taken is an amazing coincidence. Who sent you the email? Your friend? Again, the chances that they would write an email word for word the same as a hoax is unbelievable.

If you receive this or a similar message, please do not forward it to your friends and colleagues. Forwarding unsolicited chain letters wastes time and bandwidth.

[ChuckFickens]

Maybe everybody who works for the Security and Fraud Department at VISA has the same badge number of 12460!