Phishing emails should be reported.

Sydney - Visa International Australia and New Zealand today advised members of the public to ignore an email, which is aimed at stealing card information from unsuspecting cardholders.

The email in question is not issued by Visa nor does it have any link to "Verified by Visa". By clicking on the link in the email, which also illegally contains the Verified by Visa logo, cardholders are taken to a site (which appears not to be active as at 1700 AEST yesterday).

Visa does operate an online authentication service called "Verified by Visa". However, Visa does not initiate contact with cardholders by email or phone to seek personal or confidential information. Visa does not request information through links embedded in an email. Only visit Visa's web site directly for information.

The email reads:

"Due to frequently raised unauthorized use and online fraud activity against VISA cards, Verified by VISA activating mandatory precaution. All VISA cardholders are obliged to enable Verified by Visa security service for their VISA cards. This is compulsory registration and must be completed till 25 Sep, 2005. Non - Verified by Visa cards have to be blocked by issuer within 7 days after deadline. You may start registration by visiting Verified by Visa http://vlzacard.com/. Thank you for your support. Visa Service Department"

If people have received a fraudulent email claiming to be from Visa, please contact phishing@visa.com.

About Visa: Visa is the world's leading payment brand generating more than US$3 trillion in annual card sales volume. Visa has unsurpassed acceptance in more than 150 countries. The Visa organization plays a pivotal role in developing innovative payment products and technologies to benefit its 21,000 member financial institutions and their cardholders. Visa is a leader in Internet based payments and is pioneering the creation of u-commerce, or universal commerce-the ability to conduct commerce anywhere, anytime, and any way. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com.

Visa Australia

Visa is the leading payment brand in Australia with nearly 12 million cards on issue and a network of more than half a million merchant acceptance locations. More than A$131 billion was spent at point of sale or withdrawn from ATMs in Australia using Visa cards in the year ended June 2005. Visa processes more than 650 million transactions in Australia annually. For more information, visit www.visa.com.au.

Visa New Zealand

In New Zealand, Visa is the leading payment brand with almost 2 million cards on issue and more than 100,000 merchant acceptance locations. NZ$14 billion was spent at point of sale or withdrawn from ATMs in New Zealand using Visa cards in the year ended June 2005. Visa processes more than 100 million transactions in New Zealand annually. For more information, visit www.visa.co.nz.