Scam Alert from Consumer Protection
| Published: 5th December 2007 22:59 |
Consumer Protection Officers from Stoke-on-Trent City Council are warning residents of a scam that could leave them hundreds of pounds out of pocket.
The scam starts with a telephone call from someone claiming to be from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA or MasterCard.
The caller gives a badge number and claims that your card has been flagged because of an unusual purchase. They ask if you have bought an Anti-Telemarketing Device for £497.99 from a Marketing company based in London, and when you say "No", the caller says they will issue a credit to your account.
They say they will be start a fraud investigation but need to verify that you are in possession of your card. They don't ask for your card number - they already have it, but ask you to "turn your card over and look for some numbers." There are seven numbers; the first four are part of your card number, the next three are the security numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card.
The caller will ask you to read the three numbers to him, and when you do, 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."
Councillor Joan Bell, city council Portfolio holder for public safety said; "This scam is pretty slick since they seem to provide you with all the information, except the one piece they really want - the three-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Once they have this, these cruel conmen will spend on your card."
The city council is urging cardholders not to give the number to anybody. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or MasterCard directly to verify the conversation.
Representatives from the real VISA or MasterCard would never ask for any number on the card as they already know the information - since they issued the card!
Cllr Bell continued; "I urge everyone to be vigilant and not to give any information about your finances, to any-one who phones you."
Anyone who has been the victim of this scam is asked to report it to the city council's Consumer Protection team by calling 01782 235000.
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