Dear Attorney General,
I received a call from someone claiming to be my credit card company. The caller said my card was flagged by their security department for an unusual purchase. They knew my name and the last four digits of my card number. They said that they would remove the suspicious charge, but needed me to confirm that I was in possession of the card by telling them the three-digit code from the back. Is this unusual?
Dear Kansas Consumer,
This is a fairly new twist on identity theft. Now that most credit cards and bank cards contain a three digit “security code” on the back of the card, more merchants are requiring that code before processing charges.
Scam artists already in possession of stolen credit card information are calling consumers to obtain this security code. They may sound official because they have your name, contact information and credit card number, but consumers should never give any information over the phone to an unsolicited caller.
This particular scam is effective because consumers are caught off guard. They are afraid that their card has already been charged for something they did not authorize. Instead, the scammer obtains your security code and then makes the unauthorized charge to your card, usually within minutes of ending the call.
If you receive an unsolicited call asking for your credit card security code, or any other personal or financial information, hang up. If you believe the call may have been legitimate, call your company directly and ask. You can obtain the toll-free customer service number on the back of your card, or on your bank statement or credit card statement.
As your Attorney General, I am working to keep Kansans safe by spreading information and promoting awareness of consumer-related issues. If you have fallen victim to this type of scam, or have any questions about consumer issues, please visit www.ksag.org or contact my Consumer Protection Division at 785-296-3751 or 1-800-432-2310.