You should be aware of another Credit Card Scam currently doing the rounds. This time you receive a phone call purporting to be from "VISA" or "MasterCard". The caller does not ask for your card number; they already know it! They then give you their “badge number” and say that your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern. They ask if you purchased an Anti-Telemarketing Device for £249.99. When you say no, they say that they will credit that amount back to your card and they ask for the last 3 numbers on the back of your card. If you disclose these 3 numbers, the scammers can use your credit card to purchase goods for any amount over the internet or telephone. Currently they just seem to debit your card for the sum of £249.99 but once they have these last 3 digits they can use your card for purchases up to your credit card limit!
NEVER DISCLOSE THESE THREE NUMBERS TO ANYONE. Your credit card company already knows this information and will never ask you for it.
Note that these phone calls sound very professional and plausible. They already know your address and card number and they give you a “control number” for you to quote if you call your credit card company to discuss the call. Legitimate calls from credit card companies will NEVER ask you to disclose this type of information over the phone. If you have any doubts about calls from alleged credit card companies, tell them you will phone them back. Then look up the phone number for that credit card company and CALL THAT NUMBER.
If you do receive one of these calls take down the information they give you and hang up. You should then alert your credit card company and contact the police with the details. The police said they are taking several of these reports each day. Please tell colleagues and friends about this scam so that others do not fall for it.
Date:20 February 2006
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