for people with credit cards. is this really going on?

Question

I just got a visa card and my cousin sent me this message telling me to beware, and i want to know is this really going on. thanks for answering. and here's the message she sent me...

The Holiday Season is just a little bit down the road and the bad guys are already trying to get free stuff by using your credit. I just received this so thought I'd forewarn you and forward it on.
New Credit Card ScamSnopes.comsays this is true. See this site -http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.aspThis Snopes site says TR UE!!! I just checked it myself.
This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want.
Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.

One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was called on Thursday from "Master Card".
The scam works like this: Person calling says, "This is (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 which was issued by ( name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a Marketing company based inArizona?" 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

1- 800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) 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 you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 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 you mastercard. Do you have any ot her questions?" After you say, "No," the caller then thanks you and states, "

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 charged to our card.
Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number.What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card d irectly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Di git PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit.&n bsp; However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too

late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.
What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a "Jason Richardson of Master Card" 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. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening.

Answer 1

Thanks for the news myself would not divulge that infor mation as the companies already know that when calling you but will pass it around. Great info on a new scam Kudos to you

Answer 2

Thanks for the warning! This is good to know and remember, your credit card company will NOT ask for these numbers!

I have to admit that I fell for one of these scams and after ID theft and a subsequent bankruptcy, I wonder if that was one way how this started!

I now have a website about what I went through with credit repair and I go into detail on common most often used scams because these sadly work and people fall for them!

If I have one hope it's that everyone who reads my website will become determined not to be a victim!

Remember, these vultures often prey upon people who have gone through difficulties and now have problems with their credit. They not only take advantage of you for your money, but also your desperation, and it gets worse this time of year!

Answer 3

Dayum, thanks for the heads up. I remember receiving a call from Dsicover simiarly to that, but was told from another person that Discover always does that, but this is different since my purchases weere actually made. I have to keep my eyes open