Warning credit card scam

As this is not parenting advice i would ordinarily put it in my blog but i think it is important that every1 read it as it could save you and your family a lot of furture money hassels.... The following was sent to me by email....

Subject: New  credit

card scam
>
> This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU
> with all the
> information,
> except the one piece they want.
> WARNING...New Credit Card Scam.
>
> Note, the callers do not ask  for your card number;
> they already have it.
> This information is worth  reading.  By
> understanding how the VISA &
> MasterCard  Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll
> be better prepared
> to
> protect yourself.
>
> One of our employees was called on Wednesday  from
> "VISA", and I was
> called
> on Thursday from "MasterCard".
>
> The scam works 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, which was issued by
> (name of bank).  Did you  purchase an
> Anti-Telemarketing Device for
> $497.99
> from a Marketing  company based in Sydney?"
>
> 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".  The caller continues - "I will be
> starting a Fraud
> investigation.  If you have any questions, you
> should call the 1-  800
> number
> listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask
>  for Security.
>
> You will need to refer to this Control Number.   The
> caller then gives
> you a
> 6-digit number.  "Do you need me  to read it again?"
>
> Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam  works.
> The caller then says,
> "I
> need to verify you are in  possession of your card".
>  He'll ask you to
> "turn
> your card  over and look for some numbers".  There
> are
> 7 numbers; the first  4 are part of your card
> number; the next 3 are the
> security numbers  that verify you are the possessor
> of the card.  These
> are
> the  numbers you sometimes use to make Internet
> purchases to prove you
> have
> the card.  The caller will ask you to read the 3
> numbers to him  After
> you
> tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "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?"
> After you say No, the caller then thanks you and
> states, "Don't;
> hesitate to
> call back if you do", and hangs up.
>
> 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 charged to  our card.
>
> I checked this out on snopes.com.
>
> Long story  made short - we made a real fraud report
> and closed the VISA
> account.  VISA is reissuing us a new number.
>
> What the  scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on
> the back of the
> card.
> Don't give it to them.  Instead, tell them you'll
> call VISA or  Master
> card
> directly for verification of their conversation.
>
> The real VISA told us that they would never ask for
> anything on  the
> card, as
> they already know the information since they issued
> the card!
> If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number,
> you think  you're
> receiving
> a credit.  However, by the time you get your
> statement you'll see
> charges
> for purchases you didn't make, and by  then it's
> almost too late and/or
> more
> difficult to actually file a  fraud report.
>
> What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday,
>  I got a call from a
> "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!  They also urged us to tell
> everybody we  know that
> this
> scam is happening.
>
> Please pass this on to  all your family and friends.
>  By informing each
> other, we protect  each other.