Credit Card 3 Digit Scam

QUOTE FROM ONLINE EBAY SELLER

"The new 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 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'.
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 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the last 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 last 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 were 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. We made a 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 will 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. I dealt with a similar situation this morning, with the caller
telling me that $3,097 had been charged to my account for plane tickets to Spain
, and so on through the above routine.

It appears that this Is a very active scam, and evidently
quite successful."

Resource: http://forums.ebay.com/db2/topic/Trust-Safety-Safe/Credit-Card-3/5100061304#msg5201140920