----- Original Message ----- From: <LAMNKM@cs.com> To: <swfpcug-general@fanfic.net> Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2003 10:34 AM Subject: (SWFPCUG) DO NOT Call Area Code 809 > Hello: > > Below is information I received from a friend - I cannot attest to its > validity. Here it is for you information, use, and verification as you may find it > to be of value to you? > > Louie > > **************************************************************************** ** > ************ > > 809 Area Code > > We actually received a call last week from the 809 area code. The woman said > "Hey, this is Karen. Sorry I missed you--get back to us quickly. Have > something important to tell you." Then she repeated a phone number beginning with 809. > We didn't respond. > > Then this week, we received the following email: > > Subject: DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809, 284 AND 876 > > THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US BY AT&T. 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 and 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" area 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 $2400 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 lots 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 $2425 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 $24,100.00. > > 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, where as 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 > -- > Swfpcug-general mailing list > Swfpcug-general@fanfic.net > http://www.fanfic.net/mailman/listinfo/swfpcug-general > For information about the SWFPCUG go to http://www.swfpcug.org/ >