A Scam Warning: Please Pass This On To Your Friends And List

By Author: Anthony L. Davenport
Total Articles: 3
Comment this article

Hi,
I have been scammed before in
the past...and i HATE THEM!
so I want to do all I can to ensure
no-one else gets scammed..
so PLEASE pass this message on to your
friends and list..
please help me
thanks again,
Anthony L. Davenport
http://www.iczn.com

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 didn't respond.

Then this week, we received the following e-mail:

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,
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 e-mail, 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
(920)687-904

_____

This message may contain information that is confidential and may be
subject to obligations of secrecy in terms of Section 36, 39 or 41 of
the Serious Fraud Office Act 1990. A breach of these secrecy provisions
is an offence. If you are not the intended recipient you must not
peruse, use, copy or disclose the contents to any other person.
Messages sent or received by members of the Serious Fraud Office are not
private and may be subject to monitoring. If you have received this
message in error, please contact the sender. Thank you.


About the Author http://www.iczn.com