Don't dial any telephone number with area code 809

[plasticman33]

Do not respond to phone calls, e-mails or web pages that tell you to call an "809" phone number. If you call from the US you will be charged $2,425 per minute. The 809 is located in the British Virgin Islands and functions like the 900 numbers do in the US, i.e. "pay-per-call". Don't use it!!!

 

[Bob Peale]

To add to that, the only legitimate toll free numbers are in the "8xx" format where "xx" are identical numbers.

So far, the numbers used for toll free are:

800
888
877
866

I do not believe any others have been activated

 

[plasticman33]

Kick it up!

to the top

 

[Bob Peale]

Laurel, can we get a sticky?

 

[beckbabe]

Thanks Bob.

 

[plasticman33]

bump

 

[cymbidia]

From http://www.urbanlegends.com, where i go to check *all* potentially dubious things i read/hear on the net:

Synopsis Scam artists con people into calling phones numbers in the 809 area code. 809 is a pay-per-call exchange in the Caribbean and the unwary can run up big charges.

Is it true? Yes!

Why? The scam has been around for a number of years. See the links below for confirmation of the scams.

Comments Even though this is a very rare example of a forwarded email warning that turns out to be true, in general, it probably isn't a very good idea to pass along warnings circulating via email.

See also
"Businesses Beware of Internet Scams" from the Better Business Bureau, http://www.bbb.org/library/iscams060299.asp

"Consumers Continue to Fall for the Most Common Telephone Scams" from the Better Business Bureau, http://www.bbb.org/library/telescams.asp

"Special Alert!" from Scambusters.org, http://www.scambusters.org/ScamBusters8.html

"900#, 800#, 809# & International Call Scams Index from the National Consumers League, http://www.fraud.org/news/subject/900ind.htm

"809 Area Code Phone Scam" from About.com, http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blnote11.htm#scam

809 Phone Scam from the Urban Legends Reference Pages, http://www.snopes2.com/inboxer/scams/809.htm

 

[plasticman33]

Sorry Cym.......

The warning didn't come from an e-mail, I received it from both AT&T and Verizon directly.

 

[Gilly Bean]

From http://www.urbanlegends.com,

http://urbanlegends.com/

There was an extra comma in there.

Also, would be nice if you could read AND understand the site. Most of the info is so jumpled, and looks to come directly from email forwards, that it is nearly unreadable. It has many >> stuck in, with partial conversations, etc.

Sorry, just had to rant, cause I was looking forward to seeing the site, then left very disappointed.

 

[plasticman33]

For additional info.

www.att.com/fraud/home.html#thre/s/

 

[plasticman33]

bumpity bump

 

[Bob Peale]

PM,

No apologies needed this time. I only through in because this one ran on our locay news last night also.

 

[beckbabe]

Ooops, that would be: Thank you Plasticman, rather.

 

[Bob Peale]

Bump

 

[thumbs2_ca]

thankyou

Thanks Plasticman.