Visa and MasterCard Scam.

[ian]

I got this from a mate, I've no reason to disbelieve it.
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I've just been warned about this, and could potentially be financially fatal
so close to Christmas.

Please pass on to all people on your mailing list.??I got this from a
contact in the Halifax Visa team so it is happening!!

Visa and MasterCard Scam.?? 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 7numbers; 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 a friend of
mine 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 co-workers so please pass this on to your
friends................