- by Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor

We received our first phone scam of the year this morning. An automated call telling me that there had been a charge to my VISA card that was being considered suspicious because it was for $300 to Itunes International. If I wanted to cancel the charge, I could press “1”, and for another option I could press “2”.

At this point I recognized it as a scam and hung up – mostly because the message said it was concerning my VISA card with the number beginning 45 (which all VISA cards do).

But it did have some credibility, so in the interest of my neighbours' security, I called the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

The very helpful staff person who answered my call said that this was a known scam that used to be done by live callers, but was now increasingly automated. If I had pressed a number, I would have been connected to a live person who would have asked me for, or already had access to, my full credit card number. They would have offered to refund the purchase – say $300 – to my card. In one version of the scam, they would refund $3000 “by accident”, and then ask me to “send back” the difference, telling me in a convincingly panicked voice that otherwise they might be fired for the error.

The CAFC staff person said they had spoken to someone who had lost $17,000 this way. Their bank told them it had ultimately come from their line of credit. All of the linked pieces of information from various sources give the scammers access to your money in ways you'd never suspect. Sometimes they have it all before they even call – that's why they're calling you.

Some advice from my friendly CAFC staff person –

• Note the caller's phone number if you can (but don't pay for it – it's often a spoofed number anyway)
• Note the number they want you to call, if they've left a message.
• Call CAFC with any questions – they want to know about scams – how they are spreading and changing. Do not be afraid to call,  especially if you have been a victim.