Please read this below as it has been forwarded from the Lancashire Police (even though I don't live there, someone who does forwarded it to me)

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 "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 of bank) did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for £497.99 from a Marketing company based in London?" 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 0800 number listed on the back of your card (0800-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 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 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 MasterCard directly 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 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 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 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 family and friends. By informing each other, we protect each other.
CREDIT CARD SCAM
PCSO 7135 Alison Monks - Lostock Hall Neighbourhood Policing Team

I know it seems weird to post scam info in the forum, but hey, I think it will be helpful! Don't want you Plimates being caught out!

Is this from Nigeria?

Worse.

Lancashire...

There goes my business idea.

There are some scam that act as a form of tax on the incredibly stupid.

If anyone ever calls you and asks you to confirm your secret 3-digit code or for that matter if anyone calls you and asks you for any personal information that they should have - hang up. If they made the call you don't know who they are.

This is basic common sense or at least it should be.

Years ago I had trouble with the password on my online bank and had to call to get a new password. She asked for my online pin code-different from a password. I didn't have a clue. So, I asked her how many characters it was. As soon as she told me, I knew what the pin code was. But, I called them.

wHEN i WORKED FOR bANK OF aMERICA IN A CALL CENTRE WE WOULD OFTEN ASK FOR THE 3 DIGITS IF A CUSTOMER HAD CALLED US BUT NEVER WHEN WE CALLED A CUSTOMER.

sTILL IT DIDN'T STOP CUSTOMERS GIVING US THEIR pin NUMBERS AND ALL SORTS OF INFORMATION WE DIDN'T ASK FOR.


EDIT - MY CAPS LOCK WON'T TURN OFF :(

geez stop shouting and air blast your keyboard.
*covers ears*

Heh.

Not too long ago I got a call from someone saying they were from a magazine I subscribe to and wanting to send me a free gift. They said they needed to confirm my information in order to send it to me. I said Ok.

They asked me to tell them my address.

I said No.

They said they had a great free gift and they just needed my confirmation.

I said if they WERE from the magazine company, they already HAD my mailing information. They could read it to me and I'd agree or disagree.

They said that's not how confirming worked.

I said it was for me--I already KNOW where I live, so it's not a test of my validity!

This went around and around a few more times until I hung up.

Never got that wonderful free gift.

Well done!

Like black puddin'

Heh =)

I got a call to my work landline yesterday; apparently I had won tickets to a cruise of some sorts, in the Caribbean.

It was a recorded message, and they wanted me to answer to a survey first, so I did ("Do you smoke? Press 1 for yes, 2 for no", so I pressed 3, and so on). After that, they put me through to a live person to get my name and other information, at which point I yawned and hung up.