VISA SCAM

LATEST SYDNEY 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.   
This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA &         
MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be be! tter 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: Caller: '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 w e 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 e $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          
investigat! ion. 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 e 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
you! r 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 charged to our card.                                        
Long story - 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 y 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 y 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 V ISA
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.