MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Recent information released by the Station Finance Office and the General Service Administration warns holders of government travel credit cards to beware of anyone requesting information about their credit cards via phone or e-mail.
Often, individuals receive fraudulent e-mail claiming to be from Visa officials and asking cardholders to reactivate their accounts due to a "technical security update." Cardholders are directed to click on a link that appears to be the Visa Web Site, but is actually a fake mirror image. People are then asked to enter personal information, such as credit card numbers and social security numbers.
"A bank official is not going to call you or contact you in this way," said Master Sgt. Benjamin F. Slater, the Station Finance Office finance chief. Slater stressed that banks and credit card companies will not ask for credit card numbers or social security numbers.
"The credit card companies actually don't contact the holders," explained Amy J. Baker, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron and Station travel card agency program coordinator. "It's the banks, in this case, Bank of America, which contacts credit card holders."
"They (banks) will never solicit information from customers. They may ask such information if you initiate the call, but that's only to verify the caller and your account information." Baker also stated, "Whenever you have any doubt, just hang up and feel free to call the APC for help or guidance, or call the 800 number on the back of the card."
Baker did acknowledge that many contacts are made by e-mail, but these e-mail messages usually direct individuals to contact someone directly, not to send information.
In addition to e-mail messages, many people are also receiving phone calls stating they are bank employees working with the government charge card program. The scam operators claim to be checking suspicious card activity and ask for account numbers, social security numbers and other personal information. The important thing to remember is, bank employees do not call and ask for this kind of information. Only APC's will request this information, but they rarely do, stated Baker. They already possess this information. They may ask for some personal information if an individual calls, but only to confirm the person's identity.
Any attempts, or suspected attempts, should be reported immediately to APC's and the bank by calling the 800 number on the back of the credit card.