Credit Card Scam

I saw this warning about a new credit card scam on Dave Farber's IP list (1, 2, and 3), and then verified it on Snopes.com. From Snopes.Com:

My husband was called on Wednesday from "VISA" and I was called in Thursday from "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 issued by 5/3 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 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 says he "needs to verify you are in possession of your card. Turn the card over. There are 7 numbers; 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 dept. told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 WAS put on our card.

According to Snopes this is a type of scam that has been happening for awhile. It's important to remember that Visa, MasterCard will never call you directly. Instead the bank issuing the card would call you, and even then they would not need to call you for information they already have. Your best bet if you receive a call like this is to ask for the agent's name, id number, and a ticket number for the case. Then hang up the phone without giving any information or agreeing to anything. Call the phone number on the back of your card (not the one the person on the phone gave you) and ask for the security department. Then give the ticket number and start with that person. Remember that you can never trust anyone who calls you in these cases. The only way you know you are talking to a credit card company and not a scammer is if you make the call yourself.