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| CREDIT
CARD SCAM - WATCH OUT |
A friend was called on the
telephone this week from 'VISA' and I was called on Thursday from 'MasterCard'. It worked
like this: Person calling says, 'this is Carl Patterson (any name) and I'm calling from
the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been
flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. Did you purchase an
Anti-Telemarketing Company a device/any expensive item, for £497.99 from a marketing
company based in (any town?) When you say 'No'. The caller continues with, 'Then we
will be issuing a credit to your Account. This is a company we have been watching and the
charges range from £297 To £497, just under the £500 purchase pattern that flags most
cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (they give you your
address), is that correct?'> You say, 'Yes'. The caller continues . . 'I will be
starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 0800 number
listed on your card and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control number.
They then give you a 6-digit number. 'Do you need me to read it again?' Caller then
says he 'needs to verify you are in possession of your card' (this is where the scam takes
place as up until now they have requested nothing!). They then ask you to turn your card
over. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are 1234 (or hatever, as they have your number
anyway). The next 3 are the security numbers that verify that you are in possession of the
card' (these are the numbers they are really after as these are the numbers you use to
make internet purchases to prove you have the card). 'Read me the 3 numbers.' When you do
he says 'That is correct. I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or
stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions? Don't hesitate
to call back if you do.'
You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. But
after we were called on Wednesday, we telephoned back within 20 minutes to ask a question.
Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA security department told us it was a scam and in the
last 15 minutes a new purchase of £497.99 WAS put on our card. Long story made short. We
made a real fraud report and closed the VISA card and they are reissuing us a new number.
What the scam wants is the 3-digit number and that once the charge goes through, they keep
changing every few days. By the time you get your statement, you think the credit is
coming, and then it's harder to actually file a fraud report. THE REAL VISA/MASTERCARD
DEPARTMENT REINFORCED THE POINT THAT THEY WILL NEVER ASK FOR ANYTHING ABOUT THE CARD SINCE
THEY ALREADY KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT IT!!!!. What makes this even more remarkable is
that on Thursday I got a call from 'Jason Richardson of MasterCard' with a word for word
repeat of the VISA Scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up. We filed a police
report (as instructed by VISA), and they said they are taking several of these reports
daily and to tell friends, relatives and co-workers so please pass this on to your
friendS. Frederick Liston |
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Hints for surviving the cold and flu (and
holiday) season
In TCM terms the primary pathogen is one of the four so-called Pathogenic Factors; these
are Wind, Cold, Heat and Damp. They can invade the body singly or in pairs/groups. For
example, the greatest and most penetrating of the pathogenic factors is wind, and it
usually carries one of the other factors with it. e.g. Wind-Cold; headache, stiff neck and
shoulders, streaming eyes and nose, chills. Wind-Heat; sore throat, headache, fever,
sweating, thirst and aversion to wind.
These are classic 'colds'.
The body is particularly vulnerable to the penetration of wind and pathogenic factors
around the back of the skull, the back of the neck and the back of the shoulder blade
areas. Protection of these areas during winter, particularly windy winter weather is an
essential cold avoidance strategy. A scarf is a must, but I would prefer to see all
clients in hooded jackets for the duration of the season!
A good Chinese household remedy for the very start of a cold is:
1 chopped spring onion
5 slices of fresh ginger
1 clove of garlic
Pinch of cinnamon powder
1 teaspoon of brown sugar
Boil up for 10 minutes with one and a half cups of water; drink piping hot and go to bed
immediately.
Occasionally a cold will penetrate to a deeper level of the body, often if the qi is weak
due to concurrent problems such as stress or tiredness. This can result in Post-viral
fatigue syndrome, which can then progress to ME in unlucky patients. Chinese herbs
can treat this situation very effectively, and it is better to seek treatment sooner
rather than later, since a retained pathogen can create havoc inside the body, if left
unchecked. This is a situation which needs to be dealt with by an experienced and
qualified practitioner, so if you are feeling exhausted and poorly 4 weeks after the flu
has left you, do come in for some medicine, and get back on top of your life ASAP!
Helene Wheelan
The Beauty Box, 58c Station Road, Sheringham. 01263 823487 |
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