Scammers Taking Advantage Of New Chip Credit Cards

BOSTON (CBS) - Your new chip card has just arrived in the mail. Yep. There's a scam for that and it's easy to become a victim.

Con artists are contacting cardholders under the guise of wanting to help.

"In order to properly enable the card to function, you have to give them personal identifying information about yourself," consumer advocate Adam Levin says of the scammers.

But aren't these cards supposed to stop fraud?

"The card is designed to really make it more difficult for people to counterfeit cards," Levin says.

Levin says it's not the fault of the 'card' it's you falling for "one of the oldest tricks in the book."

"Unfortunately these are information scams that are surrounding the cards, that have nothing to do with the cards," he says.

So you'll get an email or a phone call.

"Just fraudsters that are using this environment where people either are expecting cards or just received cards and may not understand how to properly activate the card," Levin explains.

This fraud was first discovered in New York State, but it happens everywhere. Remember activating the new cards is all you.

"Generally on the card is a sticker and the sticker gives you the phone number to call in order to activate the card," Levin says. "It doesn't require you to receive a call from someone."

But if you do receive a call, Levin says, "Rule number one in the world of fraud is never authenticate yourself to anyone who calls you."

And if you do get an email, there's often a link that when clicked, installs malware on your computer or handheld device.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Jeff Brown Reports