[SEL] FW: A New Credit Card Scam OT

[cgandree at mchsi.com]

This came from a close friend who is doing financial advising.  Normally don't 
forward these type of things but this a real threat.
Curt Andree


----------------------  Forwarded Message:  ---------------------
From:    "Donald W. Hansen Jr." <dwhans03 at comcast.net>
To:      <dwhans03 at comcast.net>
Subject: A New Credit Card Scam
Date:    Wed, 28 Sep 2005 15:52:22 +0000

The following scam sounds very real & chilling.  Please read on.


WARNING...New Credit Card Scam. 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.

My husband 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 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 
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 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. By informing each
other, we protect each other.