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Credit Card Scammers Working The Phones

By Mark Abrams

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- Scammers are now working the phones, trying to get you to surrender your credit card and debit card information.

The state attorney general's office says it's been happening all across Pennsylvania the past few weeks.

A call was even received by Attorney General Kathleen Kane's spokesman J.J. Abbott, at work.

"An automated call from a toll-free number telling the consumer that a hold has been placed on their credit or debit card account," Abbott said, explaining the scam. "If the consumer believes that's their card, they'll ask them to press '1' and then asks them to enter their credit card before they proceed."

Abbott says no credit card company or bank asks you to surrender that information and you shouldn't ever give them out by way of your keypad.

He says hang up, get your credit card out and call the 800 number on the back to check to see if there really is any problem with your account.

Abbott says if you recently got such a call and you did enter numbers, you need to contact your credit card company or bank immediately. You should also report it to the attorney general's office.

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