Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2005 19:31:23 -0400
Reply-To: "jhecht@alum.mit.edu" <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "jhecht@alum.mit.edu" <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Subject: legitimate scam warning (NVC)
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Hi all,
I verified this scam warning at snopes.com -
http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp - and it is legit, not
an urban legend. So this is worth reading.
Joy
-----Original Message-----
Here is a credit card scam that is hitting our area. You might want to
pass along this email.
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> 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 #" 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,"he needs 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 your card number, the next 3 are the 'Security
Numbers' that verify you are in possession of the card. These are the
numbers you useto make Internet purchases to prove you have the
card. Read me the 3 numbers".
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 charge on our card.
Long story short, we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA
card, and they are reissuing us a new number. What the scammers
wants 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 direct. 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 harder
to actually file a fraud report.
Please pass this on to all your friends. By informing each other, we
protect each other.
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