Genealogy Chat

This has been forwarded to me. Please see below:

Subject: FW: FW: Visa & MasterCard Scam....... Not a joke, so beware MasterCard Scam My husband was called on Wednesday by "VISA" and I was called on Thursday by "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 and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control #". Then gives you a 6 digit number, "Do you need me try 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; the 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 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 issuing a new number. What the scam wants is the 3-digit number and 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 co-workers. PASS IT ON!

Now you've got me worried - my partner had a similar call about three weeks ago from a 'fraud department' asking him if he'd made a purchase of £1.200 ! He hadn't and told them so and they read out to him his card number but they gave my date of birth ! He asked them to cancel his card immediately which they said they would do and no charge would be made to him. I felt a bit uneasy and rang the number of my Mastercard help line explaining the whole thing to them. They made no mention of a scam but agreed to cancel my card and send me a replacement. Both new cards arrived with no problem so was my partners a genuine fraud department call or not ? At least we've both got new cards now and all seems to be up and above board but now I'm a bit concerned. Mary Brooke

Thanks for the tip, we are always getting calls about one thing or another, will make sure this one dosen't get the information required. I would add that you could always try telling fibs, wrong numbers etc. They should tell you you have read it wrong if they don't then phone the police. Irene

Checked with my credit card company this afternoon and was told that calls are made to customers if they feel an unusual transaction has been made with a card - you can always check by ringing the number on your correspondence and if a call has been made concerning fraud it will have been logged by them. Phew ! Relieved now but just goes to show what can happen. Strange thing was my partner never ever uses his card for any internet of phone purchases so how anyone would have got hold of his details is beyond me. Mary Brooke

Didn't someone post a similar thread a few weeks ago. Never give card details over the phone to someone who rings you. The genuine ones know your number etc, don't need to ask. Margaret

Jill thats awful I think sometimes when someone calls you and you hear the words fraud on your card you just go into panic mode. I suppose you could call them back on a number you know just to be sure. I used to feel awkward about asking for ID from callers and door to door people but now there are so many hard faced people about you just can never be sure and I do ask now. My phone wont accept withheld numbers (I got fed up of salesmen even though Im ex direct) so thankfully not many people can just phone willy nilly. Hope you got your money back. Jan x

They should never need numbers to verify you have the card. A simple 'yes' or 'no' will suffice.