[guide.chat] Forwarded Email: Beware

From: "Judith Appleton" <judith.appleton@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <guide.chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 18:29:49 -0000
Subject: Beware

 Hi all, 

1. 
This has been passed on via another Force area through our own Fraud Department 
In Wiltshire Constabulary, and it is a very convincing SCAM. We have been asked 
to disseminate the information as widely and was quickly as we can through 
Neighbourhood Watch, School Safe and others. 

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 employees was called 
on Wednesday from "VISA", and I 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 London ?" 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 0800 number listed on the back of your card (0800-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 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 MasterCard 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 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. 

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

Paul Phelps 

PC1102 Neighbourhood Watch Liaison Officer.
[guide.chat] Forwarded Email: Beware

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