NOTE: THIS DID NOT HAPPEN TO ME, I AM ONLY SHARING THE WARNING
My husband was called on Wednesday from "VISA" and I was called on Thursday
from "MasterCard". It worked like this:
Person calling says, "This is Carl Patterson 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 issued by 5/3 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 800 number
listed on your card 1-800-VISA and ask for Security. You will need to refer
to this Control #". He then gives you a 6 digit number.
Caller then asks "Do you need me to read it again?" then says he "needs to
verify you are in possession of your card. Please turn the card over. There
are 7 numbers; first 4 are 1234(whatever)the next 3 are the security
numbers that verify you are in possession of the card. These are the
numbers you use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. Read
me the 3 numbers."
When you read him the 3 numbers, he then 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 happened to call back
within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we ever 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, closed the VISA card
and they are reissuing us a new number. What the scam wants is the 3 digit
number! Once the charge goes through, they keep charging every few days. By
the time you get your statement, you think the credit is coming, and then
its harder to actually file a fraud report.
NOTE - The real VISA company reinforced that they will never ask for
anything on the card (they already know).
What makes this 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 told us to tell friends,
relatives and co-workers.
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