BS: UK credit card scam beware

Subject: BS: UK credit card scam beware
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 10:20 AM

Just had this passed on to me..all you that have master cards and VISA cards becareful......


I've received the following email, please be careful what information you give out over the telephone.

This is a clever scam .. watch out for it !!
Visa and MasterCard scam
My husband was called on Wednesday from "VISA" and I
was called in 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.
This would be on your VISA card Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing
Device/ Any expensive item for £ 497.99 from a marketing company based in
Anywhere?"
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 your card 1-800-VISA and ask for Security.
you will need to refer to this Control #". Then gives 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. Turn the card over. There are 7 numbers;
first 4 are 1234 whatever) 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. Read me the 3
numbers." Then 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
called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The
REAL VISA security dept. He 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 as a new number. What
the scam wants is the 3 digit number and that once the charge goes through,
they keep Charging 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.
REMEMBER: THE REAL VISA REINFORCED THAT THEY WILL NEVER ASK FOR
ANYTHING ON THE CARD (THEY ALREADY KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT US)!!!!.
What makes this 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
coworkers. PASS IT ON

Subject: RE: BS: UK credit card scam beware
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 10:42 AM

Only thing is, email warnings about scams very often turn out to be hoaxes themselves.

Still, the advice, never to give any details about your credit card to anyone who phones you, is good advice.

Subject: RE: BS: UK credit card scam beware
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 11:00 AM

It was actually written and by one of my mothers collegues when it happened to her adn her husband. If no-one phones you regarding it great! If they do then beware....

Subject: RE: BS: UK credit card scam beware
From: Ed.
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 01:27 PM

If you're stupid enough to fall for anything like that, well...

Subject: RE: BS: UK credit card scam beware
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 01:33 PM

more spam... like emailling virus warnings...

Subject: RE: BS: UK credit card scam beware
From: Cllr
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 01:37 PM

http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp

Subject: RE: BS: UK credit card scam beware
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 04:16 PM

What a strange coincidence to have such a similar report of a similar event in two countries on opposite sides of the Atlantic. In fact apart from it being £497.99 in Anywhere for catPHiddle's friends and $497.99 and Arizona for the other one I couldn't spot any difference...

All in all, a remarkable case of synchronicity.

Subject: RE: BS: UK credit card scam beware
From: Ed.
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 04:40 PM

Quite astonishing, McGath!

catsPHiddle,

I don't think that any of us have meant to be mean, you come across as a really nice and kind person (more than I do), but lesson learned, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: UK credit card scam beware
From: Mr Red
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 05:27 PM

Watch out for the double swipe.

Old fashioned carbon paper slips - they could put two in the machine and get you to sign through both. Not easy but a known wheeze. Then came machines and the double swipe was re-invented. Machines are programmed to make it hard but where there is money.......

I spotted one a couple of years back, I was struggling with my eyes and the wise guy on the till gave me my ticket and I signed it and as I walked away I noticed an extra line (petrol, crisps and what?).
When I went back to the lad he actually was stupid enough to show me the coke can (I never never drink the stuff) he had passed in front of the scanner (by accident) as I squinted at the crisp packets. I left him with the idea he wouldn't be accidenting on me again.

Subject: RE: BS: UK credit card scam beware
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 19 Jan 04 - 09:54 PM

Wahts an "anti telemarkiting device"? do we have them in engalnd?, never heard of them!

Subject: RE: BS: UK credit card scam beware
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Jan 04 - 12:12 AM

It's attached to the phone, John, and the moment you pick up the phone it gives off an audible beep that somehow tells an automated dialer that this number isn't working. You proceed with your phone call if a human called you, but if a computer calls, it disengages at the sound and supposedly they usually log this number as non-functional. Gets you off of lists.

If you're calling someone with one of those, then you simply hear a brief little high-pitched tone before your conversation starts.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: UK credit card scam beware
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 20 Jan 04 - 04:58 AM

I think the lesson from this is that if anyone rings you from the bank or the credit card company, you say "Who's this? I'll ring you back - what's your number?", then ring back the bank itself, rather than the number they've given you, and check it out.

Subject: RE: BS: UK credit card scam beware
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 01:07 AM

Yesterday I bought a sandwich at a Quizmo's at the Albuquerque airport. They had a cute little wastebasket at the register to hold unwanted receipts. I kept mine, and noticed later that my complete card number was printed on both my receipts!

What century are they living in?

Subject: RE: BS: UK credit card scam beware
From: selby
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 12:29 PM

I have circulated this at work one of my workmates thinks his wife got done 2 night's ago when I left him he was making frantic phone calls to her.
Keith

Subject: RE: BS: UK credit card scam beware
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 05:12 PM

Tell him not to worry. The scam as described just wouldn't work.

Subject: RE: BS: UK credit card scam beware
From: Ed.
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 05:19 PM

Tell him not to worry. The scam as described just wouldn't work

If it worries people unduly, it has 'worked' in perhaps the way that way intended.

Subject: RE: BS: UK credit card scam beware
From: Mr Red
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 06:14 PM

I am guessing but that gizmo may just give a tone that sounds like a fax machine, or mimics the number unattanable.

Subject: RE: BS: UK credit card scam beware
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Jan 04 - 07:30 PM

But if it makes people more cautious about giving out confidential information to strangers over the phone, that's a good thing. There are plenty of scams which do work.