Internet & Phone Frauds..............

Analyze the heading of this article. Internet and telephones signify technology and frauds are the bane of the society. When the bane of the society start using technology to their benefit, then beware, you might be their next victim. This is a mail I received a few days back. Read on for a look into the modus-operandi of these frauds. Learn how they trap their victims.............


This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA &Mastercard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better preparedto protect yourself. Thanks to Dr. Pat Cloney for passing this on. Thosecon artists get more creative every day.

The Letter

My husband was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was called onThursday from "MasterCard". The scam works like this: Person calling says, "this is , and I'm calling from the Securityand Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card hasbeen flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify.This would be on your VISA card which was issued by bank. Did youpurchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a marketingcompany based in Arizona?" When you say "No", the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing acredit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and thecharges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase patternthat flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will besent to (gives you your address), is that correct?" You say "yes". The caller continues... "I will be starting a Fraudinvestigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1-800number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask forSecurity. You will need to refer to this Control #" The caller thengives 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,"he needs to verify you are in possession of your card". He'll ask youto "turn your card over and look for some numbers. There are 7 numbers;the first 4 are your card number, the next 3 are the 'Security Numbers'that verify you are in possession of the card. These are the numbers youuse to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. Read me the 3numbers". After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say ,"That iscorrect. I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost orstolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any otherquestions?" 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 thecard number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called backwithin 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did!


The REAL VISASecurity Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes anew purchase of $497.99 was charge on on our card. Long story made short, we made a real fraud report and closed the VISAcard, and they are reissuing us a new number. What the scammers wants isthe 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 direct. The real VISAtold us that they will never ask for anything on the card as theyalready know the information since they issued the card! If you give thescammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit.However, by the time you get your statement, you'll see charges forpurchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost to late and/or harderto actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a"Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISAscam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a policereport, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking severalof these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we knowthat this scam is happening. Please pass this on to all your friends. By informing each other, weprotect each other.

Thank-You.

Here is another mail which a friend of mine received at work (to his official e-mail id which he claims is one of his best kept secrets outside the organization). This is also a fraudulent mail. Check it out...........


From: SUNSWEET LOTTERY
Date: 08/16/04 21:37:35
To: lotto@albawaba.com
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE WON

International Promotions/Prize Award Department


Dear Winner,

RESULTS FOR CATEGORY "A" DRAWS

Congratulations to you as we bring to your notice, the results of the First Category draws of SUNSWEET LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL. We are happy to inform you that you have
emerged a winner under the First Category, which is part of our promotional draws. The draws were held on the day prior to your notification and results are being officially announced . Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000names/email addresses of individuals and companies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, and Oceania as part of our International Promotions Program.

You/Your company, attached to ticket number 6422-5-486, with serial number 59-18 drew the lucky numbers 33-92-78-05 (18) and consequently won in the First Category.

You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out of $750,000 (SEVEN FIFTY THOUSAND US DOLLARS). This is from the total prize money of $13,000,000 shared amongst the winners in this category.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your fund is now deposited with our transfer agents and insured in your name. In your
best interest and also to avoid mix up of numbers and names of any kind, we request that you keep the entire details of your award strictly from public notice until the process of transferring your claims has been completed, and your funds remitted to your account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants/non
participants of this program.

We also wish to bring to your notice our end of year premium stakes draw where you stand a chance of winning up to $50 million; we hope that with a part of your prize you will participate.

Please contact your claims agent immediately for due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice:

Mrs. Kate Williams,
(FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER),
ROYAL NETWORK. B.V
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
at: katewill47@yahoo.co.uk


You are advised to contact our agents by both email and fax within a week of receiving this notice. Failure to do so may warrant Disqualification.

NOTE: For easy reference and identification, find below your reference and Batch numbers. Remember to quote these numbers in every one of your correspondences with your claims agent.

REFERENCE NUMBER: sunsweet/2031/8161/04
BATCH NUMBER: R3/A312-59

Congratulations once again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.


Sincerely,
Dr. Thomas Brikk,

Secretary,

SUNSWEETINTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROMO,THE NETHERLANDS.
ALFONSTRAAT B56 1002 BC,
THE NETHERLANDS
EMAIL ADDRESS


N.B: Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to disqualification. Please Contact your Claims agent immediately.


These are just two samples and there are many more ways in which these frauds operate. If you want more details, and also if you have received any mails like this and want some action taken then log on to http://www.fraudwatchinternational.com/.

Anywayz before you reply to any more mails like this or follow whatever steps these frauds tell you remember that in today's world nothing is free and everything comes with a price-tag which may be hidden but surely existant.

So happy surfing people...........................

With my buddies on the last day of college...................... 

Me