Canadians are inundated with scam emails, texts, and phone calls on a daily basis.

While criminals pretending to work with major Canadian banks is nothing new, they are now attempting a new credit card scam that everyone should be aware of.

I recently received a phone call from Blue saying I could get a zero percent interest rate on all my credit cards for three years. I knew it was a scam, so I recorded the call and tried to keep the scammer on the line.

Here is how the two-minute and 26-second call went before the scammer got frustrated and hung up.

Scammer: Hello, I’m calling from Visa with a special offer for our customers.

Cardholder: I don’t understand. Why did you call me?

Scammer: Based on your good payment history and comparative rate, you are fully eligible to receive a zero percent interest rate on your current credit card for the next three years.

Cardholder: So I can get zero percent interest on my credit card for three years?

Scammer: Yes sir, for the next three years.

Cardholder: That’s great. So what do I need to do?

Scammer: So, after getting a zero percent interest rate, your responsibility and current job is to keep paying your bills on time the way you do now.

Cardholder: Okay.

Scammer: So, my next step will be, I will pull the latest billing statement on your behalf.

I will inform you of the current balance owed, your last payment made, and the interest rate you are currently paying.

After that, I will complete your zero percent profile. So, to work on the account, can you give me your card? Please confirm your card numbers with me.

Cardholder: Okay, but you called me.

Why do you want me to give you the card numbers?

Scammer: Yes sir. I have all your information in my database because we are insured and protected.

Right now, know that I am on a recorded line.

Why I ask for card numbers is to make sure the card is not stolen or misused, sir.

I won’t ask you for any personal information like PIN, password, your driver’s license, or anything like that.

Because I don’t want to lose my job, sir.

Cardholder: So you want me to give you my credit card number?

Scammer: Yes sir. Verify the card numbers so I can proceed and pull the latest statement for you.

After that, I will complete your zero percent profile, sir.

Cardholder: If I give you my credit card numbers, will I get zero percent interest on all my credit cards for three years?

Scammer: Yes sir.

Cardholder: That’s great. So which company are you with?

Scammer: I’m calling from the help department at Visa, sir.

This promotional call is special for CIBC, Scotia, Bank of Montreal, and Royal Bank.

Cardholder: I’m not with any of those banks. Then the scammer hung up the phone.

I told Rachel Jolicoeur, Director at Interac, CTV News Toronto that criminals are always trying to come up with ways to catch people off guard to get their credit card, banking, and other personal information.

Jolicoeur said: "Interac fraud and fraud in general is ongoing, but what we are seeing now is an increase in all kinds of fraud attempts."

She said thieves will also look through social media posts to try to find out as much as possible about you, as they might already have some information and are looking for the last piece to steal your identity.

Jolicoeur added: "Criminals are very skilled at taking one piece and putting it together (with others) to create a portrait of the individual and that’s where identity theft comes in."

According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Canadians lost more than $379 million last year in reported losses and received 104,295 fraud reports.

Estimates also indicate that only about five percent of victims report fraud.

The bottom line is never give your credit card numbers, expiration dates, or security code to someone who calls and asks for them, just know it’s a scam and hang up.

Edited by: Abdel Salam Bin Saleh