FTC Warns Of Email Scam Targeting Chip-Enhanced Debit And Credit Card Holders
EDGEWATER, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A federal agency is warning of scammers who are capitalizing on new rules in the credit card world.
As CBS2's Meg Baker reported, Ingrid Gonzalez was getting the hang of her new credit card while shopping at a Target store in Edgewater, New Jersey.
"I have to use the chip right?" she asked the clerk.
The credit card industry is currently in the midst of a massive change, swapping the classic stripe and swipe for new chip-enabled cards aimed at offering better security.
"These being more secure is kind of reassuring," said chip card holder Eric Brown.
Industry analyst Matt Schulz, of creditcards.com, said the process of switching technologies at every store has been confusing and slow.
"It's the biggest change in the way we've use credit cards in decades, and people aren't ready yet," he said. "There's a lot of confusion out there."
The recent incentive for banks to get new cards to consumers by Oct. 1: the major credit card networks have shifted fraud liability to whichever side of the transaction hasn't yet made an upgrade to new technology -- the bank or the retailer.
"If a customer comes to somebody tomorrow and they happen to have chip card and that merchant doesn't have a chip card-enabled reader, that merchant could be liable for any potential fraud," explained banker Wayne Oliver.
But not everyone has a chip-enabled card yet, and now the Federal Trade Commission warns that scammers are capitalizing on that.
The FTC said scammers are sending emails that seem to be from a credit card issuer, asking for valuable personal information in order to send a new card.
In some cases, the scam asks consumers to click on a link, which could install malware.
The FTC said consumers should only share personal data online when they've typed in the web address themselves, and can see the site is secure.
Not sure if your email is legit? The FTC said to call your credit card company to confirm.
