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Phone scam/ FYI

4000fps4000fps Member Posts: 786 ✭✭
edited April 2002 in General Discussion
> >THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US BY AT&T. DON'T EVER >DIAL> >AREA CODE 809, 284 and 876> >> >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" 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 $24100.00.> >> >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 ithout 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.

Comments

  • .280 freak.280 freak Member Posts: 1,942 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    www.snopes2.com has this to say about the scam -While the basic premise that dialing an 809 prefix number CAN possibly be part of a scam, the charges that you might be subject to would be more realistically in the $25 to $100 range, not the horrendously high ones quoted.Nothing to sneeze at, to be sure, but still not quite what the e-mail would lead you to believe. Also, they caution that there ARE legitimate 809 numbers.The other numbers listed also have some basis in fact, but special circumstances have to be met for them to work; check out the website I linked and simply punch any one of the 3 numbers into their search engine to get the whole story.Any time I read something like this on the Net, I go to the Snopes Urban Legend website to see if they have any information on it. I would recommend that others do the same. It can help keep down the amount of disinformation being spread on the Web(even when done with the very best of intentions, as in this case).
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