New VISA / MasterCard Telephone Scam -- URGENT

[skodaw]

! New VISA / Mastercard Scam !

Lengthy but worthwhile read!

Please read on and lookout!

By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard telephone scam works, you’ll be better prepared to protect yourself.

Scam works like this: person calling says, “This is (NAME), and I’m calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA/MasterCard. 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 or MasterCard that was issued by (Name of Bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for £249.99 from a Marketing company based in (name of any town or city)?”

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 £150 to £249, just under the £250 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”. The caller continues – “I will be starting a fraud investigation. If you have any queries, you should call the 0800 number listed on the reverse of your card and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control Number. 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, “I need 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 part of your card number, the next 3 are the security numbers that verify that you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make an Internet purchase to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read these 3 numbers to him

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 say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the card number.

One of my colleagues was subject to this scam today – when he rang the real VISA Security Department he was informed this was a scam and that a sum of £249.99 had been charged to his account 15 minutes earlier!!

He has now filed a Police report and a real Fraud report, VISA have closed his account and are going to issue new details.

VISA asked him to tell everyone he knows about this scam, and remind everyone that the real VISA or MasterCard companies will NEVER ask for ANY card numbers or details – if you are called in this manner, hang up and call your card issuing company immediately.

[flashyg]

good advice, but seems hard to believe the scammers know so much about your details, bar 3 numbers. Frightening.

[Scotty]

I did a search on the web for "My Badge number is 12460".

Earliest post I could find was November 2004. I don't think it's new.