[Mb-civic] FW: Scam warning - con artists at it again

[Golsorkhi]

------ Forwarded Message
From: Kay Zafar <kzii at swbell.net>
Date: Thu, 02 Dec 2004 16:22:48 -0600
To: G-1 <kzii at swbell.net>
Subject: FW: Scam warning - con artists at it again


> -- 

> Plano Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association   MEMBERS MAILING LIST
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Latest Credit Card Scam
> Got this from a friend this morning.... be careful!
> Some helpful information! Be sure to read...
>  
> This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA &
> MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared
> to protect yourself. Thanks to Dr. Pat Cloney for passing this on.
> Those con artists get more creative every day.
>  
> 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 , 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 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 #"
> 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 he "needs 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 your card number, the next 3
> are the 'Security Numbers' that verify you are in possession of the
> card. These are the numbers you use to make Internet purchases
> to prove you have the card. Please read me the 3 numbers".
> 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 have said 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 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 scammers 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 direct. 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'll be 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 much harder 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 scammer. 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 friends. By informing each other, we
> protect each other. Thank-You
>  
>  
> Sgt. Frank McElligott
> Neighborhood Police Officer Unit
> 972-941-2527
> 972-941-2547 - FAX
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> All the messages posted to this mailing list are the opinions of the
> individual poster and not necessarily of any company, organization or entity
> including the Plano Citizens
> Police Academy Alumni Association, the Plano Police Department or the City of
> Plano Texas.
>  
> 


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