Another phone scam has re-surfaced in northern Illinois as consumers are reporting receiving prerecorded messages that their MasterCard has been hacked and that they need to call in to verify their card number so that a new card can be issued. The Better Business Bureau is alerting consumers to these calls and warns that if an automated system calls asking for credit card information it’s probably a scam.
What the scammers are after is the card number and expiration date but more importantly the security code which will make it possible to use the card for online purchases.
“It’s difficult to say who will get the calls; some of them are probably random or robo-calls,” says Dennis Horton, director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau. “But it is also possible that the scammers purchased the numbers off mailing lists or from a hacked database.”
The scam works two ways. The consumer is asked to “press 1” to speak to an operator who will then ask for the information on the card. Or in other instances the request will be to “press 1” to fix the issues with the card and a pre-recorded voice will give instructions to enter the 16-digit card number, the expiration date, and finally the security code.
“Under no circumstances should you do provide any information” stated Horton. “If you fear there is a possibility that your card may have been hacked, hang up and call your credit card provider.”