OT: VISA/MC Scam happening now - Read and HEED!

Submitted by GoWings2008 on

This warning was distributed to our office through the base security folks where I work.  Posted for everyone's benefit as I am told its happening in the Midwest and moving across the country:  

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.

 

                This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself. One of our folks were called on Wednesday from 'VISA', and another 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 last 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 last 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 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. We were 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. We made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. *What the Scammer 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 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 Scammer 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 too 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. I dealt with a similar situation this morning, with the caller telling me that $3,097 had been charged to my account for plane tickets to Spain, and so on through the above routine.

 

                It appears that this is a very active scam, and evidently quite successful.

hart20

May 1st, 2014 at 4:05 PM ^

I'm really, really close to catching the criminals behind this scheme but unfortunately, I've run out of funds for my investigation. If you guys want to help fund my investigation and catch these scammers, send me only a $1000 and I promise that when I get the reward money, I'll share the millions with you for your faith.

Hurry, though! If someone else catches them, we'll lose out on the ability to retire early!

 

BiSB

May 1st, 2014 at 4:08 PM ^

When the son of the deposed king of Nigeria asks you for help, YOU HELP HIM.

His father ran the freaking country.

rjc

May 1st, 2014 at 4:17 PM ^

I know it was a tough year to be a Philadelphia 76'er but it's sad to see Jason Richardson resort to this...

1464

May 1st, 2014 at 4:19 PM ^

You got it easy. I met a lovely young girl in my travels. We found that we shared similar humor, common interests, and generally hit it off.

Turns out, she was super religious. Sex after marriage type thing. I'm not, but we would reconcile those differences.

One thing led to another, which led to a wedding night. A wonderful affair, flowers and old friends. Our families were beaming with pride.

Finally, my wait would be over. I carried her into the hotel room and over the threshold. I tore off her dress.

Penis. There was a fucking penis.

DMill2782

May 1st, 2014 at 4:22 PM ^

pretty much destroys this scam. You can log in to your account while on the phone and see that your account was not charged for the Anti-Telemarketing device. Obviously you don't need a credit for a charge that never occurred. Then you hang up.

sheepman

May 1st, 2014 at 4:21 PM ^

I got one yesterday too. Different one though.

I received a text through verizon. It said my 5/3 account was compromised. There was a phone number. I called it and a computer voice (very official sounding, BTW) told me that my account was compromised and asked me to enter my social security number for verification purposes.

 

markusr2007

May 1st, 2014 at 4:23 PM ^

you're within your right to say "What, you mean your company issued me a credit card and don't know my PIN? FUCK OFF! Cops are on their way asshole!"

VISA/MC says merchants are not supposed to know or keep the CVV codes or store them anywhere, which is what makes CC#s by themselves fairly useless.

What I also finds works is answering your cell phone like a Jersey Pizza shop:

"Louie's pizza, may I take your order!? Hey, look lady, I ain't got all day here! You order da pizza, we make it, you eat it...let's go honey! Hurrityup heah?"

 

joeyb

May 1st, 2014 at 4:38 PM ^

First of all, never give anyone information if they call you. Call back with the number on the back of your card and then continue the conversation with them or another person.

Second, just curious, do you happen to know if the person was part of the Target breach? I'm wondering if this is the fallout from that. Target wouldn't have stored those CCV numbers, but they'd have almost everything else.

WolvinLA2

May 1st, 2014 at 5:23 PM ^

When he asks for my CVV code I'm going to tell him the wrong one and then when he says "that's right" I'm going to say no it's not I got you!

LSAClassOf2000

May 1st, 2014 at 5:33 PM ^

One of the more interesting things about this for me anyway is that, being of an admittedly frugal nature, the unusual thing would be me actually shelling out nearly $500 for something without first trying to talk down the price or get some sort of discount. It is good information though, so thanks for sharing this so folks can be aware.