Brits are being warned by payments association Apacs about the resurgence of old-style phone scams, where fraudsters posing as bank security staff call victims and dupe them into handing over their card details.
Criminals purporting to work for the security departments of banks, card companies, Visa or MasterCard, are phoning victims claiming their records have flagged up fraudulent transactions.
They then ask for the three-digit security code on the back of their victims' cards, claiming the amount of the fraudulent purchase can be credited back if the individual divulges the number.
The security code can then be used to make fraudulent purchases online or over the phone.
Mark Bowerman, PR manager, Apacs, says: "If you have any doubts when approached in this way you should hang up and call the organisation back on a number that you know is correct. If you think you have already been a victim of this scam, you should speak to your card company as soon as possible."