23 Jul 2010

Warning over credit card refund phone scam

12:55 pm on 23 July 2010

The Commerce Commission is urging consumers to hang up on a scammer who is telephoning people claiming they are due a refund.

It says it's received several reports over the past few days of consumers being contacted by someone who tells them they are owed $3,000 due to credit card overcharging.

But the consumer is told by the fraudster they need to pay a fee before receiving the refund, and in some cases have claimed to be calling on behalf of the Commerce Commission.

The regulator says it's clearly a scam, as it has not ordered any repayments for credit card overcharges, nor has the Bankers' Association.

The Commerce Commission says consumers should hang up, and not give any bank or credit card details.