roifromnwales
Guest
A friend was called on the telephone this week from 'VISA' and I was
> called on Thursday from 'MasterCard'.
> It worked like this: Person calling says, 'this is Carl Patterson (any
> 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. Did you purchase an
> Anti-Telemarketing Company a device/any expensive item, for £497.99 from
> a marketing company based in (any town?)
> 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 (they give 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 your card and ask for Security. You will need to refer
> to this Control number. They then give you a 6-digit number. 'Do you
> need me to read it again?'
> Caller then says he 'needs to verify you are in possession of your card'
> (this is where the scam takes place as up until now they have requested
> nothing!). They then ask you to turn your card over.
> There are numbers; the first 4 are 1234 (or whatever, as they have your
> number anyway). The next 3 are the security numbers that verify that
> you are in possession of the card' (these are the numbers they are
> really after as these are the numbers you use to make internet purchases
> to prove you have the card).
> 'Read me the 3 numbers.' When you do he 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 telephoned 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 put on our card. Long story made short.
> We made a real fraud report and closed the VISA card and they are
> reissuing us a new number. What the scam wants is the 3-digit number and
> that once the charge goes through, they keep changing every few days. By
> the time you get your statement, you think the credit is coming, and
> then it's harder to actually file a fraud report.
> THE REAL VISA/MASTERCARD DEPARTMENT REINFORCED THE POINT THAT THEY WILL
> NEVER ASK FOR ANYTHING ABOUT THE CARD SINCE THEY ALREADY KNOW EVERYTHING
> ABOUT IT!!!!.
> What makes this even 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 to tell friends, relatives and
> colleagues so please pass this on to your friends.
>
>
> called on Thursday from 'MasterCard'.
> It worked like this: Person calling says, 'this is Carl Patterson (any
> 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. Did you purchase an
> Anti-Telemarketing Company a device/any expensive item, for £497.99 from
> a marketing company based in (any town?)
> 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 (they give 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 your card and ask for Security. You will need to refer
> to this Control number. They then give you a 6-digit number. 'Do you
> need me to read it again?'
> Caller then says he 'needs to verify you are in possession of your card'
> (this is where the scam takes place as up until now they have requested
> nothing!). They then ask you to turn your card over.
> There are numbers; the first 4 are 1234 (or whatever, as they have your
> number anyway). The next 3 are the security numbers that verify that
> you are in possession of the card' (these are the numbers they are
> really after as these are the numbers you use to make internet purchases
> to prove you have the card).
> 'Read me the 3 numbers.' When you do he 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 telephoned 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 put on our card. Long story made short.
> We made a real fraud report and closed the VISA card and they are
> reissuing us a new number. What the scam wants is the 3-digit number and
> that once the charge goes through, they keep changing every few days. By
> the time you get your statement, you think the credit is coming, and
> then it's harder to actually file a fraud report.
> THE REAL VISA/MASTERCARD DEPARTMENT REINFORCED THE POINT THAT THEY WILL
> NEVER ASK FOR ANYTHING ABOUT THE CARD SINCE THEY ALREADY KNOW EVERYTHING
> ABOUT IT!!!!.
> What makes this even 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 to tell friends, relatives and
> colleagues so please pass this on to your friends.
>
>
Urban legend indeed. I wish I had the knowledge that the great man himself has? No wonder he has no time to build his self-build. B)