Sushi Money

     There’s a new variation of the telephone scam going around.  Maybe I just haven’t heard of it, but this one involves being called at home or on your cell phone by someone pretending to be from your credit card company.  They say they are an offical from Visa or Mastercard, and that your account may be subject to fraudulent activity.  And get this… they already know your credit card number!  What they don’t know is your 3 or 4 digit security code, and that’s what they need.  So they talk and talk, and let you know that you’ll be receiving a credit to your account for $XXX dollars, and all they need is to verify the numbers on the back of your card (front for American Express)…. which of course includes your security code! 

     Some consumers have given all this information to a seemingly official person from Visa or Mastercard… then after having second thoughts they called the credit card company themselves.  Guess what?  The credit card company said that fraud just had occured after the previous call.. and it was a good thing they called to verify.  Visa or Mastercard will promptly close the account and issue you a new card.   Personally, I try never to accept calls from a bank, credit card company or other financial institution.  Instead I will tell them I’ll call them back, and then after finding the official customer service number I will dial it myself.  That way I can verify that the contact or information request is real.

    Have you been the victim of fraud?  Or do you have any lessons learned or advice regarding financial fraud?  The people who do this sort of thing will continue finding ways to fool people into giving away information.  It’s important to be vigilant!

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