got this in my e-mail today…
>Hi All,
>
>WARNING…New Credit Card Scam. It was also on the TV news.
>
>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.
>
>My husband 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 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 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 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 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