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[suraj]

New Credit Card Scam ...This one is 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.
By understanding how the VISA & 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& nbsp;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 investi
gation. 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 st ates, "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 min utes 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 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.

Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each
other, we protect each other.