tihor@acf4.UUCP (03/13/84)
It is interesting to note that the two pieces of information which they requested the charge number and expiration date are also the two that you need to charge something against an account by phone.
ksh@cbosgd.UUCP (Karen Summers-Horton) (03/22/84)
Today I received a phone call from a man who claimed to be with the Continental Catalog Division of a firm called KellyMed (unsure of spelling). He informed me that because my husband and I have an active Visa or MasterCard account, we have won one of the following gifts: 1. Sanyo VCR 2. TS 1000 Home and Business Computer, with 16K of memory, and 18 software cartridges. 3. RCA 25" color TV with remote control. 4. All expenses paid 7 day vacation in Hawaii. All he needed was the expiration date on either my MasterCard or Visa. I gave this to him (not much he can do with a date). He proceeded to tell me that his firm has to give these prizes away for 'tax reasons', and if I would just give him my credit card number, he could process this and our gift would be on the way. I said no. He proceeded to tell me that all they would do is put the number in their computer and verify that the account is still active (he claims to have gotten my name from TRW credit services). I asked for HIS phone number and told him I would call him back. I called our local BBB; they gave me the number for the BBB in Los Angeles (since that was the area code on the phone number he gave me). I called them - they said they have no complaints on a company by that name, but she wouldn't give them HER credit card number. I had no intention of doing that either. I called this guy back, a woman answered the phone 'Good morning, may I help you?' I asked the name of the company - her reply was they operate under several different names, one of which is KellyMed. I spoke to the same guy and asked him to send me verification in the mail of this 'prize'. He said they don't operate that way, and I would have to either forfeit the prize or give him the credit card number. I forfeited the prize. Has anything like this ever happened to anyone else? Legitimate places have no right to ask you for your credit card numbers if you're not purchasing something, do they? I treat my credit card number just like cash - and I don't feel comfortable throwing it around. Karen Summers-Horton cbosgd!ksh