Email credit card scam warning

A consumer watchdog is warning the public to be wary of phishing emails aimed at conning personal credit card information out of customers.

The Union Luxembourgeoise des Consommateurs (ULC) has received a number of reports from the Luxembourg public of emails supposedly from their credit card provider or bank.

The emails take two formats: either they claim to have made a mistake on the individual's Visa statement or that changes to their banking security code have been made leading to the card's suspension. In all cases, the emails asks the individual to follow an online link and enter their card information.

The ULC advises anyone receiving an email like this to do nothing. Issuing banks, credit card firms Cetrel, Visa and Mastercard never contact customers via email or telephone to request personal or confidential information. The union urges consumers who have been tricked into giving away personal information in this way to cancel or block their card as soon as possible.

Anyone wishing to report a scam can find out more by visiting the ULC website.