YET another scam

[andsome]

Just received the following e-mail from a friend.

Subject: Visa Scam

If you have a Visa or MasterCard, or indeed any type of card, you should

read this, as it may impact on you personally. Beware this current fraud /

scam.

Caller says This is (name) and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Dept

of Visa. My badge number is 12345. 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 a Telemarketing device or any expensive item

for £497.99 from a marketing company based anywhere?

When you say NO the caller continues, "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 your

address). is that correct?"

You say "Yes" and 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 number. He then gives you a six 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 seven numbers;

first four are 1234 (e.g) the next three are the security numbers that

verify you are in possession of your card. These are the numbers you use

to

make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. Read me the three

numbers." Then he says, "That is correct. I just need 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 or tell you your card

number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20

minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! This was 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 charged to our card. 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 file a fraud report. (don't

quite understand that bit, but I'm repeating as given.)

REMEMBER THAT THE REAL VISA PEOPLE 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 and 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 co-workers.

PASS IT ON