Be careful peeps,i got this just now from a mate who works for a credit card co.

[color=red]I received the following information from a member of staff and having
had a need to talk to visa last week on a similar incident, I can
confirm that this is happening. At this time of year approaching
Christmas, please take note and be aware.

I got this from a contact in the Halifax Visa team so it is happening!!

A friend was called on the telephone this week from 'VISA' and I was
called on 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. Did you purchase an
Anti-Telemarketing Company a device/any expensive item, for £497.99 from
a marketing company based in (any town?)

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 (they give 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 your card and ask for Security. You will need to refer
to this Control number. They then give 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'
(this is where the scam takes place as up until now they have requested
nothing!). They then ask you to turn your card over.

There are numbers; the first 4 are 1234 (or whatever, as they have your
number anyway). The next 3 are the security numbers that verify that
you are in possession of the card' (these are the numbers they are
really after as these are the numbers you use to make internet purchases
to prove you have the card).

'Read me the 3 numbers.' When you do 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 telephoned 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 put on our card. Long story made short.

We made a real fraud report and closed the VISA card and they are
reissuing us a new number. What the scam wants is the 3-digit number and
that once the charge goes through, they keep changing every few days. By
the time you get your statement, you think the credit is coming, and
then it's harder to actually file a fraud report.

THE REAL VISA/MASTERCARD DEPARTMENT REINFORCED THE POINT THAT THEY WILL
NEVER ASK FOR ANYTHING ABOUT THE CARD SINCE THEY ALREADY KNOW EVERYTHING
ABOUT IT!!!!.

What makes this even 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
co-workers so please pass this on to your friends.[/color]

Thanks for the info.
have passed info onto freinds and family

Whilst on the note of scams ......

There is also this new scam going around that a person will you call you (usually business owners)

And say "Hi, i'm so and so , calling from the Metropolitan Police Service, (or whatever police service is in your local area) - and then go on to say, many thanks for your contribution to our charity last year, and will then go on to request some bank details from you, and so credit card details, where they will go on to draw all the cash from your card !

So ..... be warned, the police won't ring you asking for any money !

Hang up, and report it to your local police station ........

Cheers Pete

is there really any point telling the police about these things because in my experience they couldnt care less and treat you like a baffoon!

common sense is the biggest weapon against these scammers, so just stay sharp people and never give out any details.

Damn

thanks pete.... hmm my mate told me he had a call from egg with a similar type questions... hmmm will call him and see what he says

good post!

[quote name='ScarFace' date='Nov 20 2004, 08:04 PM']Whilst on the note of scams ......

There is also this new scam going around that a person will you call you (usually business owners)

And say "Hi, i'm so and so , calling from the Metropolitan Police Service, (or whatever police service is in your local area) - and then go on to say, many thanks for your contribution to our charity last year, and will then go on to request some bank details from you, and so credit card details, where they will go on to draw all the cash from your card !

So ..... be warned, the police won't ring you asking for any money !

Hang up, and report it to your local police station ........
[right][snapback]183698[/snapback][/right][/quote]

YEP

had one this morning, couldnt thank me enough for my previous help !! ,from alledgidly the local crime prevention team
had my name wrong though ,first give away
then tried to weedle my postcode out of me ,saying the one he had on file seemed to be wrong,
went on about child awareness and how by advertising my company in a free local handout , i could benefit my business and all the little children

i knew something was wrong as we do not advertise and never have, and i personally know the people at the charity we donate to

led him up the garden path a bit by asking him more questions than he asked me, then told him what he could go and do

allways best to get the caller to give you the evidence of who they are
or tell them you will ring them back, on the official number

FYI - the 3 digit number they request off the back of you card is called a CVV2 number (Card Verification Value Code). In essence, it was introduced by us Credit Card firms in conjunction with Visa and Mastercard to reduce online/telephony fraud. It is a unique number (as is your card number) which is tied to your details. It is very, very important that you keep this number to yourself (unless you are placing an order and it is requested). It acts just like your pin number, and is used as validation to authorise a transaction.

[quote name='ScarFace' date='Nov 20 2004, 08:04 PM']So ..... be warned, the police won't ring you asking for any money !

Hang up, and report it to your local police station ........
[right][snapback]183698[/snapback][/right][/quote]


nah they just send you a letter saying pay us 60 quid or else.. lol

[quote name='Fargo' date='Nov 22 2004, 03:46 PM']nah they just send you a letter saying pay us 60 quid or else.. lol
[right][snapback]184075[/snapback][/right][/quote]


You're a joker you know this right !!