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Mesa Police Department Cons, Frauds & Scams
Credit Cards
May 2004 - Identify thieves are still trying to get
personal information by calling credit card holders and posing as fraud
investigators. They tell the victim that they are investigating a fraudulent
charge on their credit card and they offer to help the victim reverse the change
and obtain a credit. All they ask the victim to do is "verify" their
credit card information and address. NEVER give out personal information over
the telephone. Besides, if they really were from your credit card company, they
would already have your information!
Unusual Purchase Patterns - Consumers are receiving calls
from someone who identifies himself or herself as calling from the Security and
Fraud Department at VISA or MasterCard. They tell the consumer what type of card
they have and which financial institution issued the card. So they have some
information about the consumer to start with. They then tell the consumer that
their credit account has been flagged because of unusual purchase patterns and
they are calling to verify a purchase. When you tell them that you did not make
a purchase, the caller states that they will issue a credit to your account for
the amount of the alleged purchase. Then they tell you that a fraud
investigation will be started and they need to verify that you are in possession
of your credit card. They ask you to read aloud the last three numbers of the
seven-digit number on the back of your credit card. These last 3 numbers are in
fact special security numbers and once released they allow the caller to send
charges through to your account. If it were your credit card company who was
calling they would already have the information they need. Please DO NOT release
any personal information over the phone unless you're absolutely certain who the
caller is.
Computer Malfunction - We received information about a scam that has hit Arizona. The
victims were contacted by telephone and told that the computers at their credit
card company had malfunctioned. The caller then asks the victim to verify their
credit card number, date of birth, Social Security Number, and mother's maiden
name. In some instances the information obtained has been used for fraudulent
activity. They are targeting the senior community.
Please do not release personal information over the telephone;
you cannot be certain that the call is legitimate.
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