Don't know if this is a hoax or not, but it doesn't hurt to know...

I got this in an email today. Some may think it's common sense, but...

>
>My husband was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was
>
>called on Thursday from "MasterCard". 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> bank. Did you purchase an
>
>Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a marketing
>
>company based in Arizona?"
>
>
>
>
>
>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 #"
>
>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, "he needs 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 your card number, 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". 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. 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 charge on 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
>
>scammers wants 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 direct. 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 Digit PIN
>
>Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time
>
>you get your statement, you'll see charges for purchases you didn't
>
>make, and by then it's almost to late and/or harder to actually file
>
>a fraud report.
>
>
>
>
>
>What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a
>
>call from a "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. 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.
>
>
>
>
>
>Please pass this on to all your friends. By informing each other, we
>
>protect each other. Thank-You.
>
>

 

Been there done that.

We had our CC# stolen from making online purchases. We no longer shop online.

 

Hoax, no diggity, no doubt.
Every message that contains the following is a hoax
'Police (or other official) urged us to tell everybody we know'
'Please pass this on to all your friends'

Let's examine, they were scammed after giving up their 3 digit number.

Thank God! there will only be 999 victims!

 

An old chain e-letter. The scam is possible, but why go through all that effort when so many vendors do not require the CCV code?

Isolated cases do happen, but hardly widespread. And if your dumb enough to give out ANY info over the phone when YOU didn't MAKE the call, you DZERVIT!! HA!

Read this: http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp

 

Yeah and if you are that dumb please report to the wallet inspector, anyone with over $50 in cash will have to leave their wallet overnight and pick it up the next morning...

 

Absolutely!! NEVER-NEVER-NEVER give out ANY information over the phone unless you initiate the call. A 3 digit number may not seem like much but hey, I won't even give my phone number to "companies" that call and they already have it cuz they just called!! If they say they're from my credit card company and need info, I tell them to hang up and I'll call my credit card customer service number and find out whats up. Just can't trust anyone these days

 

I dont like the part where it says by the time you get your statement it is too late to make a fraud claim. I always check my statement and if there is something I dont like on it I call up my credit company. If I didnt purchase it, Im not going to pay for it. Now maybe if I waited a few statements to make a claim that would be too late, but not after the 1st one.

31C