[FPARC] Fw: [veterans] Subject: Credit Card Scam Warning

[Arthur Lindell]

If you can read this, thank a teacher.... If
you are reading it in
English thank a Veteran.
Thanks for reading this & have a great day!
73 Art W4ZEF
 
-------Original Message-------
 
From: veterans
Date: 09/06/06 09:04:51
To: veterans at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [veterans] Subject: Credit Card Scam Warning
 
Subject: Credit Card Scam Warning 
 
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 VIS &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 "Master Card".
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 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 1- 800 number
listed on the back of your card (1-800-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 made 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 Master card 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 to late and/or more difficult to actuallyfile a fraud
report.
What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a 
Jason Richardson of Master Card" 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.