Credit Card Phone Scams

A card scam that has made the rounds for several years seems to be resurfacing.

Here's how it works:

1. A caller claims to work for the fraud department for your credit card provider.
2. The caller then asks if you recently made a purchase from a particular company. When you say "no," he or she may tell you the fraud department has been watching that company.
3. The individual then offers to block the charge and asks to verify your name, address, credit card number and expiration date, and asks for the three-digit code on the back of the credit card.

Do NOT give out any account information and do NOT verify other information the caller claims to already have.

What to do:

If you receive this type of phone call...

• Hang up and immediately call your credit card provider.

• A credit card company does NOT ask cardholders to disclose security codes or provide any information verifying a physical possession of a card.

If you believe you have given personal information to an illegitimate source...

• You should contact the three credit reporting agencies immediately and monitor your credit files and account statements closely.

• If it involved a credit or debit card or your financial account, also contact that company immediately.