Credit card phone scam warning

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (WPRI) - The Central Falls Police Department is warning residents about two credit card phone scams.

The first is a con artist posing as an agent of a vacation club, promising a free trip. The victim is convinced that all they have to do is furnish their credit card number and three digit security code.

Usually, within hours, $300-$500 will be withdrawn from the victim's account.

People are also being swindled from con-artist posing as agents from the victim's financial institution. The caller will claim that someone fraudulently used the victim's credit or debit card and will conveniently offer to correct the problem for them, once again requesting the victim's credit card number, security code and often times, their expiration date.

Because they feel that they have already been victimized, many people are happy to oblige making them easy prey for the swindler.

These criminals are very convincing.

Never give credit card information over the phone without verifying that the call is legitimate.

If you receive one of these calls, contact police or the Office of Consumer Protection in the Civil Division of the Attorney General's Office at 401-274-4400.