RIP-OFF ALERT: The Sun Sentinel reports that con artists are calling people on the phone posing as credit card fraud investigators in an effort to steal sensitive account information.
The crooks often pretend as if they're calling to investigate a supposedly questionable charge that you may want to dispute. But as part of their inquiry, they'll ask you to verify that you are still in possession of your card. They'll instruct you to turn it over and read the three-digit security code on the back to them.
Don't do it! That's the key piece of info a crook needs to have an online shopping spree at your expense if they already have your credit card number.
Have you gotten a call like this and already divulged that security code? Call the telephone number on the back of your card immediately and explain the situation to them. Remember, your credit card company will never ask you for those three digits on the back of your card.
Sometimes you may get an automated call from your credit card company where they want to verify a charge on your account. Clark had this happen recently after he used his card to make a charitable donation.
They had left one number on his answering machine, but he wasn't familiar with that number. So he simply called the number on the back of his card to reach the fraud department. That's a surefire way to stay safe.
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What others are saying
Called to see if you want to lower interest rate
I intercepted a call at my mother's: Prerecorded voice urges Press 1 if you want to adjust your interest rate lower on your high interest bank cards. Very clearly an identity theft phishing scam. If you fall for this you'll loose a lot of sleep and be on the hook for the thefts until YOU show that you could not have made those purchases and cash withdrawals. So, don't take the call, hang up. Remember, nobody but a thief is calling you, that's going to "adjust" the interest rate on a credit card. Why would a bank call you to get paid less? Never going to happen.
activating a card
I think I was asked for the 3-digit number once when activating a card; perhaps I had called from a phone other than my home ph.
We do at times ask for CVV number on back of card
I work for a large bank in the Fraud Dept and at times we do ask for the CVV nbr on the back of the card, to confirm the caller is in posession of the actual card. Your right if a person gets a suspicious call, the best way to confirm it is a real credit card company representative, is to indeed call the Card Services/member services number on the back of the credit card. Clark you are giving out great advice!
