bknight2602
Knight of Pleasure
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2002
- Posts
- 24,362
I just recieved this and thought I'd pass it along.
Subject: 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 did not 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
ATT.
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" 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
ATT Field Service Manager
(920)687-904
Subject: 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 did not 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
ATT.
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" 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
ATT Field Service Manager
(920)687-904
