Scam watch

I got this in an e-mail from my Dad. I thought as a public service I'd relay it through this site. If anyone has more information on this, feel free to use the Comments link below.

CREDIT CARD SCAM ALERT

My husband was called on Wednesday from "VISA" and I was called on
Thursday from "MasterCard". It worked like this: Person calling says, "this
is name and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud department at VISA. My
Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase
pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card issued
by name bank. Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from
a marketing company based in Arizona?"

When you say, "No," the caller continues with, "then we will be issuing a
credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the
charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that
flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to
(gives you your address), is that correct?"

You say, "Yes".
Caller continues, "I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have
any questions, you should call the 800 number listed on your card 1-800-VISA
and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control #". Then gives
you a 6-digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?"

Caller then "needs to verify you are in possession of your card. Turn card
over. There are 7 numbers; first 4 are your card number, the next 3 are the
security numbers that verify you are in possession of the
card. These are the numbers you use to make Internet purchases to prove
you have the card.

"Read me the 3 numbers". Then says, "That is correct." I just needed to
verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have
your card. Do you have any other questions? Don't hesitate to call back if
you do."

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the card
number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20
minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA security
department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase
of $497.99 was put on our card. Long story made short, we made a real fraud
report and closed the VISA card and they are reissuing us a new number.

What the scam wants is the 3-digit PIN number. By the time you get your
statement, you think the credit is coming, and then it's harder to actually
file a fraud report. The real VISA officials reinforced that they will never
ask for anything on the card that they already know.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from
"Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA
scam. This time I didn't let him finish I hung up. We filed a police report,
as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these
reports daily, and to tell friends, relatives and co-workers.

Please pass to your family members. While we are all careful, these people
are getting smarter and prey on the naive ones.

Update: Jimmy Ho in the comments informs me that Snopes has something on this already, which is worth checking out. I should really check out Snopes more often.