If you shopped at TJ Maxx over the past few years, your credit card may be one of the 45 million (45,000,000!) that was accessed and copied in the biggest data leak ever. The card info was used to buy gift cards at Sam's Club and WalMart for up to $400 each, ( under the limit of $500 for showing ID).

This is not the first time this has happened. It will certainly happen again.

The latest scam is designed especially to gain the security code on the face of the card to show that you have it in your possession

Scammers lure you into giving them the security code by impersonating an employee of the credit card company, theen calling you and telling you fraud has already been committed in hopes that you will tell them the three digit code.

The caller identifies himself officially by name, employee number and state. They will tell you that the call is from the Fraud Department of Visa or MasterCard. They use the news about TJ Maxx and ask if you have made a purchase there in the past 3 or 4 years.

The scammer then explains that your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase, he is calling to verify a charge that was made to your account (reads the credit card number), and asks if you made a purchase in the amount of $497.99 to a ficticious company in Alabama for an Anti-Telemarketing Device? When you respond "no" the caller states that a credit will be issued but to issue the credit the caller needs the security code (the three digit code on the back of the card) to process the credit.

You pull out the card and give the caller the security code, and minutes later are hit with a charge not a credit in the amount of $497.99. Even though the scammers have your account number, name, and some personal information, this information is not always enough to make purchases and many purchase require the security code.

Should you receive a call that is similar to the description above, take the following steps to protect your identity and your credit: