New Dogs, Old Tricks - Watch For Credit Card Fraud

If a cashier needs to call into a card issuer for an authorization, do not take the number from the customer. As reported in the Hattiesburg American, a cashier recently fell for a variation in this old scam, after a pair of fraudsters indicated that the card they were using to pay for a purchase had a problem ( it showed up declined), and that the cashier should call for an authorization. They then provided a fake number to the cashier, who recieved a fake authorization from a third person in on the scam.

Always call the number indicated on the back of the card, or the number indicated by the POS terminal. Training cashiers to call for a manager if they have to perform an authorization is another way to lessen the chances of this sort of scam being perpetrated. Amex has a list of card security features available, which can also be provided as part of cashier training.

Modifying a stolen card is another way this trick can be pulled off, so here are some warning signs for a modified card:

• The last four digits of the card number are missing from the back of the card.
• The imprinted numbers and name are the same color as the card background ( not always a sign of fraud, but can be considered with other signs of tampering).
• The card looks stressed and worn, usually with whiteish striations around the new imprinted data on the front.
• Uneven excessive wear - Parts of the card appear worn and other parts appear normal.
• If the terminal has an electronic display, the cardholder names do not match.