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Post Info TOPIC: Scams
MzHartz


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This is the second time I've been targeted on behalf of our company (I manage the website and all those emails come to me) with the same scam, and I'm trying to figure out the point of it.

The scammer will ask for a quote.  The first time it was for some outrageous amount of t-shirts, unimprinted, all mediums.  This time, it was for 70,000 full color imprinted flyers, but the flyers were just a picture of a cross with "Jesus Is Risen" on them: no church, no denomination.  So, there are red flags of unusual orders and high dollar amounts to begin with.

The emails are obviously written by someone whose first language is not English.

I get the quote (just in case it is a real order, I don't want to scare a big order away).  They respond back more quickly than someone who is bidding out quotes usually does.

They give a credit card number via email.  Most people know email isn't secure and will call it in.

They ask for the approval code after the credit card is run.  That's how I know that these scams are related.

So, what's the point?  What can someone do with a credit card number and an approval code?

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JD The Jazz Doctor


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I've made some online purchases with a credit card where that number is asked for- I think its a security measure to be sure that the actual physical card is in hand.

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Ruby


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I think JD is confusing the V code- verification code- that they would have asked the customer for, not the vendor.

MZ am I right? And if I am, I am not sure except that they would know that the credit card is still good????

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MzHartz


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Ruby wrote:

I think JD is confusing the V code- verification code- that they would have asked the customer for, not the vendor.

MZ am I right? And if I am, I am not sure except that they would know that the credit card is still good????


You're right Ruby, that is the V code that JD's talking about.

I'm still not sure why they would need the approval code.  You may be right Ruby, just to make sure the card is still good, or to make it look to the merchant like the card is good.  I did some searching online, and it looks like after the credit card is run, they ask to have the order shipped and the scam is actually to do with some sort of frieght prepayment.

 



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WebGuy


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I did a search on "approval code" and found this:

Credit Card Approval 101
The following are examples of credit card approval codes and their meanings. When an
order comes through, these codes are used to determine if the transaction is immediately
approved or not. This is the FIRST thing we look for.

Approval Code Examples:
1. YYYM or YYYP
2. NNNN
3. NNNM
4. YNYM
5. YYYN

The letter Y stands for Yes, N for No, M for Match, and P for American Express.
The first digit tells us if your name matches what's on your account.
The second digit tells us if your address matches what's on your account.
The third digit tells us if your zip code matches the state that's on your account.
The fourth digit tells us the CVV number matches what's on your account.

Example 1 (YYYM or YYYP) is a perfect input by the customer. They put their name in
correctly, correct billing address, and a correct CVV number. Even with a
perfect approval code, we reserve the right to question ANY order.
Example 2 (NNNN) shows us EVERYTHING is wrong about this order. Wrong name,
wrong billing address, and a wrong CVV number. You will be notified via
email and asked to provide us with accurate information. If it cannot be
corrected, the order will be deleted and the issuing bank will be notified.
Example 3 (NNNM) shows us wrong name, wrong billing address, and a correct CVV.
We get these a lot.

I wonder if they want the approval code so they can see which parts they have correct and which parts they don't?


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JD The Jazz Doctor


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oh!confused
thats somethin else entirely. I have no idea. no.gif

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WebGuy


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Mz, I just found another site showing some of the same kinds of scams. It doesn't say how or why they are doing this, but it sounds like the same kind of deal . . . ask for a quote and provide a credit card

LINK



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MzHartz


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Hey Web, that's the same site I found! I sent my info to them to add to their resources too.



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WebGuy


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I'm finding more, and yes, it looks like a shipping scam.

They place the order and want you to use their favorite shipper. They give you the shippers info and want you to call them for a quote.

You call the "shipper" and they give you a shipping quote. The quote is really high because it was such a large order . . . then the "shipper" tells you that you need to send payment that via Western Union.

You send the money to the "shipper" and they never pick up the goods. The charge on the credit card comes back as fraud and you are out the money PLUS you have all those imprinted shirts that you can't get rid of.



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Jeremy Riggs


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AND you're out of a job! nod.gif

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WebGuy


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I suspect the "reply with authorization code" is just to let them know that they have a live one on the hook. After you reply with that code, they know you've made the charge. THAT is when they reply and tell you about the special arrangements that need to be made with the "shipper".



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MzHartz


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Hm, now I'm tempted to mess with this guy. He won't know if the authorization code is valid...

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Ruby


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MzHartz wrote:

Hm, now I'm tempted to mess with this guy. He won't know if the authorization code is valid...


LOL! Let me know if you do!smile

 



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