Another Credit Card Scam

Please take this seriously. It was sent by our VP in charge of Fraud, and it got to her via an employee it happened too. Its a little long, but very important.

This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want.

Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it...This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.

One of our employees was called on Wednesday from 'VISA', and I was called on Thursday from 'Master Card'.. The scam works like this: Caller: 'This is(name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. MyBadge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497..99 from a Marketing company based in ?'

When you say 'No', the caller continues with, 'Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?'

You say 'yes'. The caller continues - 'I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1-800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800 -VISA) and ask for Security.'You will need to refer to this Control Number.' The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. 'Do you need me to read it again?'

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, 'I need to verify you are in possession of your card'. He'll ask you to 'turn your card over and look for some numbers'. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security Numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, 'That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?' After you say No, the caller then thanks you and states, 'Don't hesitate to call back if you do, and hangs up.

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number... But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20minutes to ask a question.. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to our card.

Long story short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything onthe card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving acredit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a 'Jason Richardson of Master Card' with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening.

Please pass this on to all your family, friends and neighbors. By informing each other, we protect each other.

Get it?

Two fish are in a tank, one says to the other, "you man the guns...I'll drive"

I need new music

That pretty much says it all. And for that reason I am turning to all of you for recommendations. I am willing to look into just about anything, but I do draw the line at country. And rap. Other than that, bring it on! Please recommend your favorite song, or artist, or album. Here are a few of my favorite artists, just for reference:

Fall Out Boy
Jason Mraz
Train
The Killers
Keene




Ready?




GO!!

Stupid Vault Door

So, I did it again. I bent my wedding ring in the vault door at work. The first door has these two grooves that my ring gets caught in a lot. This is only the second time it has actually bent it, but man, I am so mad. Last time it was so mutilated I could not even wear it. This time is not as bad, I am still wearing it, but I can tell its bent.

For those of you unfamiliar with my wedding ring (so, like, most of you), the engagement ring fits into a slide on the wedding band (see image) and it is that track that gets caught in the door. Oh, and by the way, it hurts when it bends. It kind of wrenches my finger and bruises for a couple hours.

Anyway, the reason it is such a bummer, is that we take my ring to a little company in St. George because that is where I got it. And I was just down there a couple weeks ago, and don't anticipate going again for months. And my grandma doesn't even work there any more, so I can't just send it down to her to fix. Darn.







Hey family, you sure you don't have another trip planned soon?

Happy Birthday Talina!

Today is one of my very best friends in the whole wide world's birthday. We have known each other for going on 17 years now. That is most of our lives! It is funny to think that it all started when I moved into her ward in 3rd grade, and now she lives in my ward. I love that it has come full circle. Church is so much more fun with her. Grocery shopping is more fun with her too. I love that we can call each other up at random times and request company to Smiths, or Walmart, or the library. If we go out shopping together the one with the purpose always spends less than the one thats moral support. So keep that in mind if you ever go out with us.

I love Talina so much. She has been such a great support to me for as long as I have known her. She is a big reason I wanted to go to church as a child, and she is a great example of a faithful, beautiful woman everyday. She is a sounding board, a buoy, a Redwood, and so much more. I don't know what I would do without her.

Happy Quarter of a Century Talina! Here's to another!

And here's a picture of a frog I like

Happy Anniversary!!

To my Grandma and Grandpa Mitchell! They are celebrating 60 years together tonight with family. Their actual anniversary was yesterday, but the partying will be tonight. Obviously I will not be there. As I am stuck in SLC cause of work. Oh well. I am sure they will have fun with out me.

Happy Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa!!!

Why can't I live in Delhi?

On Jan 15, people living in the southern tip of the country at Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu will get to watch the 'Ring of Fire' when the moon will cover the sun's disc during the millennium's longest annular solar eclipse.

Is it normal....

to have a persistant runny nose for the last 9 months?

2009 Meme

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Lots of stuff!! Got cancer, had chemo, lost ALL my hair, gained 10 pounds, had an unemployed husband, Went to Disneyland with my husband, oh, and got rid of the cancer.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I have never really made resolutions, but I did this year. 5 of them. One for each aspect of my life.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Our good friends James and Sarah had a baby boy, and our new friends Ryan and Ashley had a baby girl.

4. Did anyone close to you die? Nope, lucked out on that one.

5. What countries did you visit? just this one.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? A house. But I don't have high hopes.

7. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Beating cancer.

8. What was your biggest failure? beign so impatient.

9. Did you suffer illness or injury? um, yeah.

10. What was the best thing you bought? New TV.

11. Where did most of your money go? Rent.

12. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Disneyland. And starting to plan the trip to Chicago.

13. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? a) Happier, b) Fatter, c) a little of both. Nik was still with MacDocs, but on his way to Lumenas, then gone from their within two months.

14. What do you wish you’d done more of? Stuff with just Nik.

15. What do you wish you’d done less of? TV.

16. What was the best book you read? I read too many to just pick one. Good Omens, Fablehaven, Sookie Stackhouse series, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister.

17. What did you want and get? A party for my 25th birthday, and a snowflake necklace from my husband for Christmas.

18. What did you want and not get? Nothing. I got everything I wanted this year.

19. What kept you sane? crocheting and praying.

20. Who did you miss? James and Sarah since they moved out of the ward. Also my grand parents down in St. George.

21. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? I actually don't remember the exact date, but the end of March will forever be etched in my brain.

22. What song will always remind you of 2009? Lots of them!!! Lucky (Jason Mraz), Human and Spaceman (The Killers), Viva La Vida (Cold Play), Soul Sister (Train), Why I am (Dave Matthews Band).

23. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Lightly layer in trends with what I can afford, and avoid leggings.

24. Who was the best new person (people) you met? Ryan and Ashley. I love them both so much. We are sad to have them out of the ward so quickly, but I know we will keep in touch.

25. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009? Don't give up. It will get better. And even if it doesn't, its not worth losing your faith in others and in yourself. When people say they want to help, believe them. Family is the best thing anyone can have. I never want to loose mine.

The Power of Prayer

Gather around children, while I tell you a story of the power of prayer.


I know we like to tell our children, and our primary classes that if you are having a hard time, or have lost something, or just need help, they should pray. I have done this. And things have worked out. But I will admit to never having a very clear answer as to why. But since I have seen results, I have kept at it. Here is what happened to me (Keep in mind this is not meant to be a really serious experience, but it has a pretty serious moral):


Yesterday on my day off I decided to start my New Years Resolution off right, and hit the gym. The last time I went (in like November...) I forgot my padlock so I made an extra effort to find it and test the combination to make sure I could get it open. Success! I remembered it! So I go gym it out for about an hour and a half (got some serious reading done on the treadmill), and return to the locker room to retrieve my purse and jacket. After putting in my combo I am surprised to find that the lock won't open. Ok. I try again. Nothing. Again with slightly different numbers, maybe I forgot one. Nothing.

Now, I know the progression of my combination and I am pretty sure I know about which numbers I am supposed to use, so I figure it is only a matter of tries before I get it right. Um, yeah...I tried for a solid 20 minutes to no avail.

Thoughts running through my head:

*could call Nik but hes out for work, couldn't come get me.
*could call mom, but not sure if she has a key to my car.
*have to get my purse out or I don't have my phone or keys.
*without keys, can't get in to house.
*without phone, limited phone numbers I know by heart.

At this point I am desperate. I went in to the bathroom and prayed. "Please let me get my keys out. Help me to remember my combination. I thought I had tried it before I left, what happened? Please help me get my locker open." After sitting for a minute I returned to my lock. Stood, hands-on-hips and stared at my lock. Tried the combo again, with a last minute change that I had not thought of yet, and BAM!! Lock opens. First time.




Now tell me that was not divine intervention.






Like I said, not really a serious story, but a pretty awesome moral.