Can this really not be dodgy?

[Kumagoro]

My parents are off to america and want to watch celine dion. So they ordered tickets of this site www.anytickets.com (that with an s just ticket is another site).

Anyway they ordered them send credit card details but now they are saying this.

I am trying to process your order for the Celine Dion concert. Unfortunately your bank does not verify client information to merchants due privacy laws, and since you are not physically handing me your credit card, I am going to need you to fax me a copy of your id (drivers license, or passport) and a copy of your credit card, along with a signed note giving my company permission to charge your card/process your order. This information is solely used to verify, that you are the card holder and that this is your card. Also I can not ship an international package for $15, our International fee is $40. I can have your tickets sent to you for an additional $25 (with your permission), or I can have them sent to a US address at no extra charge (hotel, etc...). Your immediate attention is appreciated as this is a very time sensitive matter. My Fax number is 001(713)665-4433. If you have any questions please call my Office 001 (713)664-8833, or simply reply to this email.
Thanks,
Jonathan Siegel
Anytickets.com


Now they want a copy of some ID and a copy of the CREDIT CARD surely you
should neve give someone a copy of your credit card. Also they want the signature. If you ask me they want too much.

Also, surely the bank doesnt get contacted directly as its through visa????

The website has been registered since 2000 so it seems a long time to keep a scam running.

what do you reckon

[Kezzer]

A big NO on that one It sticks out like a sore thumb

[Rave]

As far as I can see in fact if you've given them all your credit card details, they already have all they need to misuse them. If you send them a copy of the card then they're verifying that you have the card in your possesion; otherwise YOU could be the one who's stolen the details. They're just covering their backsides as far as I can see, would you send out an expensive pair of tickets overseas on just the basis of a credit card number? If it turned out you were defrauding them it would be hard for them to get their money back if they couldn't prove that they'd taken reasonable steps to verify your identity.

By all means wait for some other opinions, but it doesn't sound dodgy to me. Meanwhile, if you've a whois of their site you could possibly do some research on the business to see that they are who they say they are?

[noah]

could go wither way, but to varify you have the card in your possesion you usually ask for the 3 digit security number on the back as machine recipts etc don't include that.

personally, i don't like the smell of it. but then i've though people are dodgy in the past and its been fine.

i'd do like rave says and try to check them out, have you googled them? or looked at their site, checking it all works nicely and is not just a little temp site with a dodgy url?

interesting to see what others think...

[Nick F]

There website seems fine to me, give them a call. I would not to send all that information over without other evidence.

[Kumagoro]

they have phoned and i get the feeling that its probably legit but I think its taking it too far. Anyone have any suggestions which could allay their fears without having to give stuff with which someone could steal your identity with.

Is it not possible to tell visa its ok?

[Iain]

Pixmania have asked for a copy of my drivers licence before when ordered a camera and it was fine. I'm not sure why they need it but they were an established company and it was all above board. Still worth a phone call to check why they need such info

[Kumagoro]

Well my dad phoned visa and they are sending out new cards I think thats what visa suggested. They seemed to not know about it or what exactly to do. Ill ask my dad later what exactly went on.

I dont know why you cant phone up visa tell them your password and then say its ok to do the transaction etc or do some online authorisation.

[KBeee]

I've had this happen a couple of times with US companies that usually deal exclusively with US customers - 1 was for an internal US flight (about half the price of buying the same flight through my UK broker).
Both times I've not had a problem, and the fact that they want a fax, which ties them to a physical phone landline, making any fraud more unlikely, swayed my judgement in their favour.
Of course, phishing is more prevalent now, so YMMV...

[rajagra]

"Your immediate attention is appreciated as this is a very time sensitive matter."

Scammers often put pressure on you to respond before you've had time to think things through. 'Nuff said.

[TeePee]

Lots of american companies want this kind of thing for international orders. It's normal.

[silent ben]

yeh, american's like collateral when doing overseas orders, theres also a bond of trust created or something. Anyway, i've been asked for a scan of my credit card and it was ok.

[ice sk8a]

they really are not trying to steal money are they NOT