Giving out card details could mean increased risk of fraud

Whilst credit cards can offer flexibility, ease, and convenience for consumers, they can also result in stress and frustration, largely because of the high level of credit card fraud that is taking place in the UK these days. With the recession in full swing many fraudsters have become more sophisticated and have started to use a variety of scams to try and get money from consumers.

Consumers in the North Yorkshire area were recently issued with a warning from the Police force in the area, after it was discovered that fraudsters had been obtaining the credit card details of cardholders by pretending to be from a well known company. Police in the area have now said that the cases that have come to light show just how easy it can be to conduct this sort of crime, and just how easily consumers can fall for it.

In one of the cases highlighted a fraudster had contacted a cardholder under the pretence that he was from British Telecom and was chasing an outstanding payment. He pretended to cut off the phone line simply by hanging up and then picking the receiver back up again, which was enough to convince the consumer that this really was someone from BT. The cardholder then gave out credit card details to the caller, and within a short space of time his account was down by several hundred pounds.

The incident has highlighted just how easily determined fraudsters can get hold of credit card account details from consumers, and just how convincing they can be. Authorities are now keen to get the message across to consumers that they should never give out details to someone that has called them or turns up on the doorstep claiming to be from a company.

If cardholders do receive calls such as this then the recommendation is to call the company back before giving out any details. An official from the local police force commented on the recent scam, stating: “This case highlights the lengths that criminals will go to invent a highly believable ploy to get you to part with your banking details. It is always better to be safe than sorry and a quick call to BT Customer Services will clear up whether or not this type of call is genuine.”

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