I went to the state of Kentucky web page and found David James' name and phone number. It coincides with the name and number given at the bottom of the email. I called the office and verified this is a real scam. If you get such a call, hang up and call the consumer protection department of the police. If you have caller id report the number.
Yuck! Sunday, February 12, 200611:02 PMJoseph Jutzlymington at insightbb.com >To friends at Macgroup. Read this? > > >Subject: Credit card scam...watch out > > >I may have sent this earlier, but can't find it in my sent mail.? It is >a valid warning.? > >? WARNING...New Credit Card Scam.? > >?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 "Master Card". 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? >Arizona?" When you say "No", the caller continues with, "Then we will be? >issuing a credit to you r 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 1- 800 number? >listed on the back of your card (1-800-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 c alled 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 made 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 Master card 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 s ee charges for? >purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost to 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 Master Card" 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.? > > > > > >David James, Commissioner? > >?Office of the Attorney General? > > > >?Kentucky Bureau of Investigation? > >?1024 Capital Center Complex? > >?Frankfort,KY 40601? > >?Office:502-696-5367? > >?Fax: 502-573-8319? > | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will | be February 28 at Pitt Academy, 6010 Preston Highway. | The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. | List posting address: <mailto:macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu> | List Web page: <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup>
