This was extremely unusual and I wanted to warn other users.

I had an instance of fraud occur on my card and I was sent another in the mail. When the credit card arrived, there was a sticker on the card inside the envelope with a phone number to activate it. I called the number and was transferred to a foreign call center that asked for a large number of personal details including the card number, expiry date, and 3-digit code. They also told me I won some vitamins and would transfer me to the "activation specialist".

Once I was transferred and the process continued and they wanted my social security number, I hung up because this whole process was suspicious. BUT I CALLED THE NUMBER STICKERED TO MY CARD.

Not one day later, a fraudulent charge for vitamins was attempted with my new card.

How did this even happen? That's a major security breach if a fraudulent sticker arrives on my card in the mail. I wanted to warn anyone who is activating their card - call the number you are familiar with and is printed on the card itself, not the activation sticker - just in case this becomes widespread.

Edit: Some possibilities that have been discussed: A. Mail interception and replacement of the sticker before the card arrived to me. B. A compromised call or distribution center placing a fraudulent sticker on the original card. C. Calling the wrong area code (800 vs. 888), with a scammer intending to receive and divert these calls knowing what the caller would be intending.

All very interesting and I appreciate the feedback. Regardless of the origin, I'll be calling the main line or doing it online from now on!