| Off-Line Identity Theft: For the past | | | | are in possession of the card. These |
| five years I have taught over 1150 | | | | are the numbers you sometimes use to |
| people how to protect yourself on and | | | | make Internet purchases to prove you |
| off line. There is a new scam where the | | | | have the card. Please read the 3 |
| thief already has information about you. | | | | numbers on the card. |
| They are trying to get some additional | | | | Recipient: (Reads the three numbers). |
| information to complete a sales | | | | Caller: That is correct. I just needed |
| transaction. | | | | to verify that the card was not lost or |
| In some of the e-mails and web sites | | | | stolen and that you still had the card. |
| this scam is being referred to as Visa | | | | Do you have any questions? |
| and MasterCard Credit Card Scam. This | | | | Recipient: No. |
| scam is being done using the phone. | | | | Caller: Thanks and don't hesitate to |
| The script below is of a typical call | | | | call the 800 number on the back of the |
| for this scam: | | | | card if you do. (Caller hangs up). You |
| Caller: I'm calling from the Security | | | | actually say very little. The reason |
| and Fraud Department at Visa | | | | why they are asking for the information |
| (MasterCard, American Express, and | | | | sounds very real. They never ask you |
| Discover are also being used). My badge | | | | for the credit card number. That is |
| # is 12550. Your credit card has been | | | | because they already had the card |
| flagged for an unusual purchase pattern | | | | number, bank, and your name. It is very |
| and I am calling to verify that you made | | | | easy to look up your phone number on |
| the purchase. This would be your isa | | | | line. |
| card which was issued by (name of bank). | | | | Since the scammers do not have |
| Did you purchase an Anti-Marketing | | | | possession of your card, they want to |
| Device for $497.99 from a Marketing | | | | make a purchase online. Having the |
| company based in Arizona? | | | | three digit code, sometimes called |
| Recipient: No. | | | | Credit Verification Number, they can |
| Caller: Then we will be issuing a | | | | make any purchase on line. |
| credit to your account. This is a | | | | Whenever someone calls you about your |
| company we have been watching and the | | | | credit card information do not give it |
| charges range from $297 to $497, just | | | | to them. You want to be the one |
| under the $500 purchase pattern that | | | | initiating the call for a purchase or |
| flags most cards. Before your next | | | | account verification. In this case, I |
| statement, the credit will be sent to | | | | would have hung up the phone and called |
| (gives you your address). Is that the | | | | the bank that issued the card directly. |
| correct address? | | | | They will only verify that it was a |
| Recipient: Yes. | | | | scam. In the example above you thought |
| Caller: I will be starting a fraud | | | | you were getting a credit, so many times |
| investigation. If you have any | | | | people will give out that information. |
| questions, you should call the 1-800 | | | | The bank will also ask you to file a |
| number listed on the back of your credit | | | | police report. |
| card and ask for Security. You will | | | | The scammer could have gotten the credit |
| need to refer to this control number. | | | | card number from anywhere you visited. |
| The caller then gives you a 6 digit | | | | It could be a worker at a restaurant, |
| number. Do you want me to read the | | | | store, garage, over hearing you on a |
| number again? | | | | public or cell phone, your unattended |
| Recipient: Yes, or No. | | | | wallet or purse, trash, recycle, a new |
| Caller: I need to verify that you are | | | | card or statement in your mailbox, etc. |
| in possession of your card. Turn your | | | | Please e-mail me with your computer |
| credit card over. There are seven | | | | questions. This is your newsletter. I |
| numbers there. The first 4 are part of | | | | want to help you to use your computer |
| the credit card, the remaining 3 are the | | | | efficiently. |
| security numbers that verify that you | | | | |