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Important Safety Tips
A quick note from a friend
Interesting tidbit from our security department...
Keep a watch out for people standing near you at retail stores, restaurants, grocery stores, etc., that have a cell phone in hand. With the
new camera cell phones, they can take a picture of your credit card, which gives them your name, number, and expiration date.
Identification theft is one of the fastest growing scams today, and this is just another example of the means that are being used.
So ... be aware of your surroundings
My wife was called on Wednesday from "VISA" and I was called on Thursday from "MasterCard." It worked 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 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." Caller continues..."I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 800 number
listed on your card 1-800-VISA and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control #." Then gives you a 6-digit number. "Do you need me
to read it again?"
Caller then "needs to verify you are in possession of your card." Turn card over. There are 7 numbers; 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." Then 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 reissuing us a new number.
What the scam wants is the 3-digit PIN number. NEVER GIVE THIS OUT!!
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
reinforced that they will never ask for anything on the card; they already know. 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.
The police said they are taking several of these reports daily, and to tell friends, relatives and coworkers.
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