The Virtual Toolbox

Mobile Manager Streamlines Your Phone System

A good friend was  telling me about the company that she works for that offers a great service for businesses -- especially small businesses. The company is OneCall, a telecommunications firm in Boston that offers virtual phone solutions. Here's how she described their services to me...

"With OneCall, you only have one telephone number to remember. The beauty of this number is that, rather than handing out a home number (and/or business number) and cell number and fax number, you can hand out one Mobile Manager number.  Then you can forward it to any phone, including your cell. The number essentially becomes your universal number.

"When your cell is charging, or dying, or you just get tired of getting all those zoomies from EMFs due to wireless connection, (which, yes, physicians now have proven is contributing to cancer), then you can forward your Mobile Manager number to a landline, rather than your cell without losing a call.

"If you have your own business, or are highly mobile, then you need this service. Rather than handing out a business number, a cell number and a fax number, you just hand out this one number.  You can receive faxes on it, then access them on computer and print them out on printer.  You can eliminate your fax machine and line.

OneCall's customers like it because it eliminates distributing so many numbers.   If you want to read more about it, visit <http://www.myhomebusinessline.com/>www.myhomebusinessline.com."

This service is very inexpensive. It actually costs less than I pay for my fax line. My ultimate goal is to be able to be mobile and travel more -- while still working --  and this service will help me maintain a professional appearance. (Plus, I love being able to download messages and faxes to my computer.)

Credit Card Scam (verified with Snopes.com)

Note: this did not happen to me, but I probably would have given them the information without a second thought ~Shane


Credit Card Scam
Snopes. Com says this is true. To verify see this site:
http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp 

 
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 & Master Card 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. My Badge 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 20 minutes 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 on the 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 a credit. 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.