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?"

[carrot99]

and those "Anti-Telemarketing Device for £497.99 from a Marketing company based in London" are so popular I'm having trouble getting hold of one!

[NoMercy]

Chances are my friend copied and pasted the above text into an email to save typing it out herself. I guess you guys didn't think of that one ! The fact remains that I spoke to her and she had fallen foul of this scam. Warning others to be vigilant, particularly at this time of the year, cannot be a bad thing.

[squarebear]

Copied and pasted from where? This is only available as a hoax email.
No point warning people against a non-existent threat.

What's the next thread? "If someone stops you in the street and asks you for your PIN number, don't give it to them. Please forward this to everyone you know".

[NoMercy]

My friend was a victim of this very type of scam. It is possible someone has mentioned the hoax to which you refer, and she googled. The fact remains that it has happened and will likely happen again. Grow up.

[ChuckFickens]

yep. all the sites listing it and slight variations of it as a hoax chain mail are obviously wrong

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

http://urbanlegends.a...credit_card_fraud.htm

http://www.hoax-slaye...curity-code-scam.html

http://www.easykey.ne...badge-number-is-12460

http://www.user-group...credit_card_scam.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...mastercard_scam.shtml

http://www.sussex.pol...fraud_pages.asp?id=22

Of course it is good advice not to give out and credit card details to a cold caller on the phone, but the message you have copied and pasted is a hoax chain mail.

[NoMercy]

It may have been copied and pasted from a hoax chain mail that was found on the internet, but I will stress once again that my friend was a victim of exactly what has been described in the text. Just because it started out life as a hoax, does not mean to say that scam artists will never try it. Unfortunately, there are always people gullible enough to give out their details, blissfully unaware of what is really happening. Like I said earlier, my friend may well have found out that this is an old one, and merely copied and pasted the text rather than type it all out. And just for the record, she is deeply upset about the money she lost.

[Charisse2]

I understand why your friend is upset howeve I would still like to know how the scammer obtained your friends telephone number, 16digit card number, name, date of birth etc

[Charisse2]

however, not howeve! Where are we with the preview pane Ed?