Trading standards alert as credit card scam spreads

Credit card holders in the East Riding are being warned about the latest scam to sweep the country.

Trading standards officers at East Riding Council have described the scam, in which callers try to obtain the three-digit security numbers on the back of credit cards, as "very convincing".

Callers claim to be from the security and fraud departments of Visa or MasterCard, and say they are investigating unusual purchase patterns.

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They then ask their victims if they bought anti-telemarketing devices for 497.99 from a company in London, and offer to credit the victims' accounts.

The callers already know their victims' addresses. They first ask for confirmation before requesting the security number.

Those receiving the calls do not have to say very much – as the callers already have their names, addresses, telephone numbers and card numbers.

Those who have revealed their security numbers have found that 497.99 has been taken from their accounts within minutes of the calls taking place.

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Colin Briggs, the council's trading standards service manager, said: "By understanding how this telephone scam works, residents will be better placed to protect themselves. Anyone who receives a call from someone claiming to be from Visa or MasterCard and asking for the security number on the back of their credit card should refuse to give it and call Visa or MasterCard to report the incident immediately."

The council is urging people who receive unsolicited telephone calls about their credit cards to ask the callers for their names and identities and then use the telephone numbers on the backs of cards to check the information is correct.

They should also inform the police if a caller has obtained a security number.

Councillor Jane Evison, the council's portfolio holder for public protection, said: "We urge consumers to protect themselves against scams of all kinds but it is especially important that they protect their bank and credit card details."

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