Common Frauds

Visa is committed to keeping you informed of the latest frauds

Why? Because knowledge is one of the most effective forms of fraud prevention.

Basic email advice

Never send payment information via email. Information that travels over the Internet, such as email, is not fully protected from being read by outside parties. Most reputable merchant sites use encryption technologies that will protect your private data from being accessed by others as you conduct an online transaction.

Phishing

The most common email scam, phishing emails appear to be from businesses alerting you to customer account problems and requesting financial information verification. Phishing attempts to trick consumers into revealing personal information such as their credit or debit account numbers, checking account information, Social Security numbers, or banking account passwords, through fake Web sites or in a reply email.

Learn more about phishing.

If you receive an email that appears to be from your card issuer requesting financial information or any other personal data:

• Treat the email with suspicion.
• Do not reply to the email or respond by clicking on a link within the email message.
• Contact your card issuer as soon as possible to report the suspicious email. Use the number or Web site address on the back of your card or on your monthly statement.

Trojan Horse virus

What’s a Trojan Horse virus?
A Trojan Horse is an email virus usually released by an email attachment. If opened, it will scour your hard drive for any personal and financial information such as your social security, account, and PIN numbers. Once it has collected your info, it is sent to a thief’s database.

What you can do:
Beware of emails from addresses or persons that you are not familiar with, especially if they contain attachments. Delete the email right away. Do not “unsubscribe.” This will tell the culprit that your email address is active. Even if a good friend has sent the email attachment, it doesn’t hurt to ask them about it before opening it.

Nigerian scam, also known as the ‘Advance Fee Fraud’, ‘419 Fraud’

This scam involves letters, faxes or emails inviting individuals to participate in a scheme that eventually turns out to be non-existent. Many versions claim to be from a government official who needs help distributing millions of dollars from their country, in return for a percentage of the money. Recipients are requested to provide bank account details, and to forward money to pay for ‘advance fees’, documentation, and administration expenses.

Spyware

What's Spyware?
Spyware is software that consumers unknowingly install, usually packaged with other software, that can track online usage and personal information. Most spyware programs are simply used by companies to track the online activity of users. According to the FTC, you should look for these clues to determine if your computer has spyware:

• A sudden increase in pop-up ads
• A browser that takes you to sites other than those you type into the address box (also called hijacked browser).
• Sudden or repeated changes in your computer’s home page.
• The appearance of new or unexpected toolbars or icons.
• Keys that suddenly don’t work.
• Sluggish or slow performance when opening programs or saving files.

What you can do
You can be proactive in preventing spyware software from being installed on your computer. Read the fine print before downloading any software, even from reputable companies. If you do not understand it, find the contact number for the company to get more information before downloading.

• Update often
  Make sure you have the most current operating system and Web browser software—and use free software patches available that fight spyware.
• Download judiciously
  Free software is great, but make sure you obtain it only from sites you know and trust, especially since many free applications bundle other software that may include spyware.
• Know your software
  Read licensing agreements carefully—if it’s hard to understand, don’t download the software.
• Use browser protection
  Make sure you select the highest security setting possible on your browser to prevent unauthorized downloads.
• Avoid pop-ups
  Clicking on links within pop-ups can install software on your computer. Get rid of pop-ups by clicking the “X” icon on the title bar.
• Beware of anti-spyware offers
  Some links in spam that claim to prevent spyware actually installs it.
• Install a firewall
  Your best line of protection, a personal firewall will stop uninvited users from accessing your computer.

Think you have spyware? Here's what you can do:

• Get anti-spyware software from a vendor you know and trust.
• Scan your computer with it, at least once a week.
• Delete any programs your anti-spyware software detects.

Find out more about frauds:

• Phishing
• Phone Frauds
• Mail Frauds