RSteve
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2008
- Messages
- 2,482
- Reaction score
- 528
This morning I received a phone call: Good morning, I'm calling from Capital One services. Late yesterday a charge in the amount of $1678.00 was placed on your Capital One Visa at Best Buy in Madison, Wisconsin. Capital One has no past history of your charges emanating from Madison, Wisconsin. We need to know if this was a legitimate charge or to clear your account of the charge and forward it to our fraud services. (I don't have a Capital One account and never had one, but played along)
"No, I did not make that charge and want it cancelled immediately."
"I'll need some information from you before we can proceed. If you are apprehensive about giving sensitive information to me, please call our toll free line" He gave me a 1-800 number.
I dialed the 1-800 number and it answered, "Capital One Visa Services, please hold until the next available customer service representative can help you." Some music and a Capital One ad played.
Line answer: "This is Capital One Services, how may I help you."
I referenced the earlier phone call and then the scam was exposed. "May I have your name with middle initial and zip code." Of course, I gave a bogus name and zip. "What is the 12 digit number on the face of your Visa card." (I made one up) "I'll need the expiration date on your card." (I made up a date) "Now this is imperative. I'm going to record this. Tell me exactly what has occurred, detailing your allegation of a fraudulent charge and what you told our agent who phoned you previously. Be very specific."
I blabbered on and on that I was in St. Paul, MN and couldn't have made a charge in Madison, Wisconsin yesterday; that I'm an older person and the charge is something I couldn't afford, etc, etc. Then the closer: "To make certain that this is completely cleared on your account and we can send you a certified mail confirmation, I need to verify your on-file mailing address Capital One has on record. Please give it to me very clearly." (I gave a bogus address.) "Now, for security purposes, at the tone, please respond, yes or no, "Do you authorize Capitol One to investigate a charge made on your account that you allege you did not make?" Of course I answered, "Yes."
"To make certain that you are the account holder of the Capital One Visa card in question, I'll need to record the three digit number on the back of the card." I, of course, gave a number. "Thank you from Capital One Visa Services. We will proceed with our investigation immediately."
Needless to say, when I phoned the 1-800 number, it was prefixed with *67 which conceals my phone number.
It all sounded very official; good voices, no accents, dial back 1-800 number.
Ultimately, I Googled the 1-800 number and it doesn't "exist".
You've got to wonder how often they snag an unsuspecting "mark."
"No, I did not make that charge and want it cancelled immediately."
"I'll need some information from you before we can proceed. If you are apprehensive about giving sensitive information to me, please call our toll free line" He gave me a 1-800 number.
I dialed the 1-800 number and it answered, "Capital One Visa Services, please hold until the next available customer service representative can help you." Some music and a Capital One ad played.
Line answer: "This is Capital One Services, how may I help you."
I referenced the earlier phone call and then the scam was exposed. "May I have your name with middle initial and zip code." Of course, I gave a bogus name and zip. "What is the 12 digit number on the face of your Visa card." (I made one up) "I'll need the expiration date on your card." (I made up a date) "Now this is imperative. I'm going to record this. Tell me exactly what has occurred, detailing your allegation of a fraudulent charge and what you told our agent who phoned you previously. Be very specific."
I blabbered on and on that I was in St. Paul, MN and couldn't have made a charge in Madison, Wisconsin yesterday; that I'm an older person and the charge is something I couldn't afford, etc, etc. Then the closer: "To make certain that this is completely cleared on your account and we can send you a certified mail confirmation, I need to verify your on-file mailing address Capital One has on record. Please give it to me very clearly." (I gave a bogus address.) "Now, for security purposes, at the tone, please respond, yes or no, "Do you authorize Capitol One to investigate a charge made on your account that you allege you did not make?" Of course I answered, "Yes."
"To make certain that you are the account holder of the Capital One Visa card in question, I'll need to record the three digit number on the back of the card." I, of course, gave a number. "Thank you from Capital One Visa Services. We will proceed with our investigation immediately."
Needless to say, when I phoned the 1-800 number, it was prefixed with *67 which conceals my phone number.
It all sounded very official; good voices, no accents, dial back 1-800 number.
Ultimately, I Googled the 1-800 number and it doesn't "exist".
You've got to wonder how often they snag an unsuspecting "mark."
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