sk33t3r
August 23rd, 2001, 07:00 PM
DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809:
This one is being distributed all over the US. This is pretty
scary-especially given the way they try to get you to call. Be sure you
read this & pass it on to all your friends and family so they don't get
scammed!
MAJOR SCAM:
Don't respond to Emails, phone calls, or web pages which tell you to
call an "809" Phone Number. This is a very important issue of Scam
Busters because it alerts you to a scam that is spreading extremely
quickly can easily cost you $24100 or more, and is difficult to avoid
unless you are aware of it. We'd like to thank Verizon for bringing this
scam to our attention. This scam has also been identified by the
National Fraud Information Center and is costing victims a lot of money.
There are lots of different permutations of this scam.
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:
You will receive a message on your answering machine or your pager,
which
asks you to call a number beginning with area code 809. The reason
you're
asked to call varies. It can be to receive information about a family
member who has been ill, to tell you someone has been arrested, died, to
let you know you have won a wonderful prize, etc.
In each case, you are told to call the 809 number right away. Since
there
are so many new area codes these days, people unknowingly return these
calls.
If you call from the US, you will apparently be charged $2,425
per-minute.
Or, you'll get a long recorded message. The point is, they will try to
keep you on the phone as long as possible to increase the charges.
Unfortunately, when you get your phone bill, you'll often be charged
more
than $24,100.
WHY IT WORKS:
The 809 area code is located in the British Virgin Islands (The
Bahamas).
The 809 area code can be used as a "pay-per-call" number, similar to 900
numbers in the US. Since 809 is not in the US, it is not covered by U.S.
regulations of 900 numbers, which require that you be notified and
warned of charges and rates involved when you call a "pay-per-call"
number. There is also no requirement that the company provide a time
period during
which you may terminate the call without being charged.
Further, whereas many U.S. homes that have 900 number blocking to avoid
these kinds of charges, do not work in preventing calls to the 809 area
code. We recommend that no matter how you get the message, if you are
asked to call a number with an 809 area code, that you don't recognize
just disregard the message. Be wary of email or calls asking you to call
an 809 area code number.
It's important to prevent becoming a victim of this scam, since trying
to
fight the charges afterwards can become A real nightmare. That's
because you did actually make the call. If you complain, both your
local phone company and your long distance carrier will not want to get
involved and will most likely tell you that they are simply providing
the billing for the foreign company. You'll end up dealing with a
foreign company that argues they have done nothing wrong.
Please forward this entire message to your friends, family and
colleagues to help them become aware of this scam.
Sandi Van Handel
AT&T Field Service Manager
This one is being distributed all over the US. This is pretty
scary-especially given the way they try to get you to call. Be sure you
read this & pass it on to all your friends and family so they don't get
scammed!
MAJOR SCAM:
Don't respond to Emails, phone calls, or web pages which tell you to
call an "809" Phone Number. This is a very important issue of Scam
Busters because it alerts you to a scam that is spreading extremely
quickly can easily cost you $24100 or more, and is difficult to avoid
unless you are aware of it. We'd like to thank Verizon for bringing this
scam to our attention. This scam has also been identified by the
National Fraud Information Center and is costing victims a lot of money.
There are lots of different permutations of this scam.
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:
You will receive a message on your answering machine or your pager,
which
asks you to call a number beginning with area code 809. The reason
you're
asked to call varies. It can be to receive information about a family
member who has been ill, to tell you someone has been arrested, died, to
let you know you have won a wonderful prize, etc.
In each case, you are told to call the 809 number right away. Since
there
are so many new area codes these days, people unknowingly return these
calls.
If you call from the US, you will apparently be charged $2,425
per-minute.
Or, you'll get a long recorded message. The point is, they will try to
keep you on the phone as long as possible to increase the charges.
Unfortunately, when you get your phone bill, you'll often be charged
more
than $24,100.
WHY IT WORKS:
The 809 area code is located in the British Virgin Islands (The
Bahamas).
The 809 area code can be used as a "pay-per-call" number, similar to 900
numbers in the US. Since 809 is not in the US, it is not covered by U.S.
regulations of 900 numbers, which require that you be notified and
warned of charges and rates involved when you call a "pay-per-call"
number. There is also no requirement that the company provide a time
period during
which you may terminate the call without being charged.
Further, whereas many U.S. homes that have 900 number blocking to avoid
these kinds of charges, do not work in preventing calls to the 809 area
code. We recommend that no matter how you get the message, if you are
asked to call a number with an 809 area code, that you don't recognize
just disregard the message. Be wary of email or calls asking you to call
an 809 area code number.
It's important to prevent becoming a victim of this scam, since trying
to
fight the charges afterwards can become A real nightmare. That's
because you did actually make the call. If you complain, both your
local phone company and your long distance carrier will not want to get
involved and will most likely tell you that they are simply providing
the billing for the foreign company. You'll end up dealing with a
foreign company that argues they have done nothing wrong.
Please forward this entire message to your friends, family and
colleagues to help them become aware of this scam.
Sandi Van Handel
AT&T Field Service Manager