Scammers trying to get your financial info-Truth!

Crooks Using Clever Schemes to Try to Get Your Personal Financial Information-Truth!

Summary of the eRumor
Various emails, telephone calls, or letters claiming to be from financial institutions, retailers, or websites and saying that they need you to verify your personal financial information.
Some of them say your credit card may have been used in a fraudulent transaction that they are calling to unravel the details.
Some claim that you must periodically verify your information in order to keep using their services.

The Truth
There are numerous emails warning of this activity.
We haven't verified whether each of the specific personal stories in the eRumors is true...but the bottom line is there is a lot of activity by clever crooks to try to trick you into revealing credit card numbers, personal identification (PIN) numbers, Social Security numbers, ATM codes, and any other information that will either give them access to your money or allow them to misuse your credit cards or steal your identity financially.

It's a procedure that has come to be known as "Phishing."
It is an attempt on the part of scammers to trick you into going to their website by telling you that you are either going to lose your credit privileges or there has been fraudulent use of your credit card.
If you respond to the link or telephone number provided, it asks you to confirm your information including your credit card data.
It is a scam that is designed to trick you into given personal and financial information to people who will misuse it and, perhaps, steal your identity.

Various emails have claimed to be from VISA, Mastercard, PayPal, Best Buy, Citibank, and other financial institutions.
One of them simply refers to your "U.S. Bank."

Another version of this eRumor that said it was from PayPal was actually considered a virus.
CLICK HERE for more on that.

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

Version #1

Subject: FW: New twist on credit card scam - Be
careful!!

We all receive emails all the time regarding one scam
or another;
but
last
week I REALLY DID get scammed! Both VISA and
MasterCard told me that
this
scam is currently being worked throughout the
Midwest, with some
variance
as to the product or amount, and if you are called,
just hang up.

My husband was called on Wednesday from "VISA" and I
was called in
Thursday
from "MasterCard". It worked like this: Person
calling says, "This
is
Carl
Patterson 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 issued by 5/3 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 800
number
listed on your card 1-800-VISA and ask for Security.
you will need
to
refer
to this Control #". Then gives you a 6 digit number.
"Do you need me
to
read it again?" Caller then says he "needs to verify
you are in
possession
of your card. Turn the card over. There are 7
numbers; first 4 are

1234(whatever) the next 3 are the security numbers
that verify you
are in
possession of the card. These are the numbers you use
to make
internet
purchases to prove you have the card. Read me the 3
numbers." Then
he
says
"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? Don't hesitate to call back if you do."

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
dept.
told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a
new purchase of
$497.99
WAS put on our card.

Long story made short...we made a real fraud report
and closed the
VISA
card and they are reissuing as a new number. What the
scam wants is
the 3
digit number! and that once the charge goes through,
they keep
charging

every few days. By the time you get your statement,
you think the
credit
is
coming, and then its harder to actually file a fraud
report. The
real
VISA
reinforced that they will never ask for anything on
the card (they
already
know).

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday,
I got a call
from
"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), and
they said they
are
taking several of these reports daily and to tell
friends, relatives
and
co-workers.|

Version #2

Dear U.S. Bank account holder,

We regret to inform you, that we had to block your U.S. Bank account
because we have been notified that your account may have been compromised by outside parties.

Our terms and conditions you agreed to state that your account must always be under your control or those you designate at all times.
We have noticed some activity related to your account that indicates that other parties may have access and or control of your information in your account.

These parties have in the past been involved with money laundering, illegal drugs, terrorism and various Federal Title 18 violations.
In order that you may access your account we must verify your identity by clicking on the link below.

Please be aware that until we can verify your identity no further access to your account will be allowed and we will have no other liability for your
account or any transactions that may have occurred as a result of your failure to reactivate your account as instructed below.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

https://www.usbank.com/account_verify/cgi/index.htm

Before you reactivate your account, all payments have been frozen, and you will not be able to use your account in any way until we have verified your
identity.

Version # 3

Subject: SCAM with VISA and MC

We all receive emails all the time regarding one

scam or another; but

last week I REALLY DID get scammed! Both VISA and

MasterCard told me

that this scam is currently being worked

throughout the Midwest, with

some variance as to the product or amount, and if

you are called, just

hang up.

My husband was called on Wednesday from "VISA" and

I was called in

Thursday from "MasterCard." It worked like this:

Person calling says,

"This is Carl Patterson (any 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 issued by 5/3 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 800 number

listed on your card 1-800-VISA and ask for

Security. you will need to

refer to this Control #." Then gives you a 6 digit

number. "Do you need

me to read it again?" Caller then says he "needs

to verify you are in

possession of your card. Turn the card over. There

are 7 numbers; first

4 are 1234 (whatever) the next 3 are the security

numbers that verify

you are in possession of the card. These are the

numbers you use to make

Internet purchases to prove you have the card.

Read me the 3 numbers."

Then he says "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? Don't hesitate to call back

if you do."

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 dept. told us it was a scam and in the

last 15 minutes a new

purchase of $497.99 WAS put on our card.

Long story made short . . . we made a real fraud

report and closed the

VISA card and they are reissuing as a new number.

What the scam wants is

the 3 digit number and that once the charge goes

through, they keep

charging every few days. By the time you get your

statement, you think

the credit is coming, and then its harder to

actually file a fraud

report. The real VISA reinforced that they will

never ask for anything

on the card (they already know).

What makes this more remarkable is that on

Thursday, I got a call from

"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),

and they said they are

taking several of these reports daily and to tell

friends, relatives and

coworkers.

PASS IT ON!