Slough Borough Council’s trading standards team are warning residents to be wary of a new, more sophisticated, credit card scam which could cost people dearly.
This new Slough scam starts with a bogus Visa or MasterCard employee phoning a legitimate customer saying they think the customer’s card has been fraudulently used. The caller will already have all the person details, such as address, credit card number and name, but is after the three digit security number on the back.
The caller will do most of the talking and clarify the card number, address and name and ask the Slough person if they have made a purchase of a sum of money under £500. When the customer says no, the caller will ask for the three digit card number as proof the person has the card in their possession.
However, once the Slough scammer has these digits and the phone call ends, the person’s credit card account will be debited straight away for a large sum of money.
To be able to shop online, the security numbers on the back of banks cards needs to be used. Despite the con artists having all other information about a person and their card, they need these digits to purchase anything on the web.
All credit card companies and banks will never ask for a person’s three digit card number as they know this because they issued the card. They will only ask if the card has been stolen or in possession of the holder.
Keith Eaglestone, trading standards manager for Slough Borough Council, said: “We’re committed to keeping residents of Slough safe and would urge them never to divulge personal information to anyone over the phone. If in doubt, say you will call the company back and do so to make sure the information is legit.
“Every day these scams are getting more sophisticated. Many people are caught out as they think the caller must be real as they have all the other information about them. Always beware being cold called.”
Commissioner for Slough community and leisure, Cllr Shafiq Chaudhry, added: “There are so many ways now that people can be scammed into having their hard earned cash taken from them fraudulently. Always be careful who you are talking to, and if in any doubt, don’t give out anything and contact your bank yourself.”
Slough Borough Council
