Yorktown Police Warn of New Phone Scam

A new scam is moving around the country, Yorktown police say. It's a variation of the perennial swindle in which the con calls the victim pretending to be their credit-card company checking for fraud.

Here's the police department's description:

Visa/MasterCard Credit Card Scam

Royal Bank received information on the newest scam which is currently taking place in the Midwest but moving across the country. NOTE: The callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it.

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 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 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 last 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 last 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.

According to the victim, if you call the 1-800 listed on your card as instructed, the real VISA Security De-partment will answer and you will be told it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to your card. Make a real fraud report and close the VISA account. VISA will issue a new card number.

Important: What the Scammer wants 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 the conversation. 

The real VISA told the victim that they will never ask for anything on the card, as they already know the information because they issued the card. If you give the Scammer 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.

The following day, the same victim received another call from a “Jason Richardson of MasterCard” with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA Scam. As instructed by VISA, a police report was filed.