SCAM WARNING - 809 Area Codes

http://www.scambusters.org/809Scam.html

Here is more info.

-> -----Original Message-----
-> From: Keith Wheeler [mailto:keith_wheeler@globalcrossing.com]
-> Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2001 9:52 AM
-> Subject: SCAM WARNING - 809 Area Codes
->
->
-> MAJOR SCAM:
->
-> Don't respond to e-mails, 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 $24,100 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 lot of money. There are lots of
-> different permutations of this scam, but 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 U.S., you will apparently be
-> charged $2,425-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 $24,000!
->
-> WHY IT WORKS:
-> The 809 area code is located in the British Virgin
-> (The Bahamas) The 809 area code can be used as a
-> "pay-per-call" number, similar to 900 numbers in
-> the U.S. Since 809 is not in the U.S., 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. phones have 900
-> number blocking to avoid these kinds of charges, 900
-> number blocking will not prevent 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 and/or investigate further and 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 Services Manager
-> mailto:vanhandel@att.com
-> 920 687-9045
-> 877 479-7902
-> 920 687-9182
->
-> http://www.snopes.com/info/current.htm
-> Things are about to get worse, because that
-> infamous off-shore area code (809) is in the
-> process of breaking up into smaller chunks, and you'll soon
-> have to think twice about calling any of the
-> following
-> area codes:
->
-> 242, 246, 264, 268, 284, 345, 441, 473, 664,758,
-> 767, 784, 787, 868, 869, 876, as well as 809.
->
-> Better Business Bureau
-> http://216.46.241.4/alerts/areacode.asp
->
-> National Fraud Information Center
-> http://www.fraud.org/news/1996/apr96/041296.htm
->
-> AT&T's fraud information page
-> http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html#three
->
->
->
->
->
->
->
-> ________________________________________________
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-> to write mail.
->
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->


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