Newest Scam

I checked this out on SNOPES.com before I passed it on.

We all receive emails all the time regarding one scam or another; but last week I REALLY DID get scammed! Both VISA and MasterCard told me that this scam is currently being worked throughout the Midwest, with some variance as to the product or amount, and if you are called, just hang up.

My husband was called on Wednesday from "VISA" and I was called in 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. This would be on your VISA card issued by 5/3 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 800 number listed on your card 1-800-VISA and ask for Security. you will need to refer to this Control #". Then gives 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. Turn the card over. There are 7 numbers; first 4 are 1234 (whatever) the next 3 are the security numbers that verify you are in possession of the card. These are the numbers you use to make internet purchases to prove you have the card. Read me the 3 numbers." Then 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 called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA security dept. 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 as a new number. What the scam wants is the 3 digit number and that once the charge goes through, they keep charging every few days. By the time you get your statement, you think the credit is coming, and then its harder to actually file a fraud report. The real VISA reinforced that they will never ask for anything on the card (they already know).

What makes this 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 coworkers.

PASS IT ON!

Holy cow! That's scary how good these crooks are getting!

My word! They are getting so sophisticated! Thanks for telling us. Hopefully everyone will pass this information on.

wow, sweets thanx for letting us know, i hope these people get caught!!

That's so scary- Thanks for passing the word.

I am a merchant, and on the receiving end of these scams. We have had three requests, in two days, from people wanting to know if we accept credit cards for payment, and will we ship overseas. We actually got to the point with one where he send his mastercard number. I called mastercard, they gave me the name and number of the issuing bank, I called that bank, told them the name of the person who supposedly was making the purchase, and it didn't match. So they transferred me to the stolen / lost card division, and the bank put a hold on the card and notified the card holder.

From now on, if someone we don't know tries to use a credit card to pay for something to be shipped, we will require proof of their identity, meaning a signature on the payment slip, as well as a copy of the face of the card with their name on it, and a copy of the signature on the back of the card.

If these people spent as much time being productive as they do trying to steal money, they might be very good at a legit. job.

It must be an international scam - there was a warning about such calls in our local paper about two weeks ago. We also had a call from our "bank" a few months ago asking for my exact date of birth. My husband always makes me 366 days older than I actually am, and gave the wrong date. When I asked at the bank why they'd called, they told me they hadn't, but that somebody had tried to debit my account using the wrong DOB! I'd never had any trouble with direct debits before, and am glad the bank didn't allow the payment.

Oh no! Thank you for say about this!

Gosh we can hardly believe anything anymore. We get fake emails from co-workers addresses at work now too! Someone got some nasty virus mailed to them and it said it was from me! She called me and I could tell at first she didn't believe me when I said it wasn't from me.