workdawg
New Member
I just got this e-mail from a friend of mine and wanted to pass it on to everyone here....It is a long message but worth reading.
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 & 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 $24100 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. HERE'S HOW IT WORKS: You will receive a
message on your answering machine or your pager, 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 old to call the 809 number right
away. Since $2425 per-minute. Or, you'll get a long recorded message.
Thepoint 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 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 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
&T Field Service Manager
(920) 687-904 &T Web
Site http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html#thre/s/
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 & 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 $24100 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. HERE'S HOW IT WORKS: You will receive a
message on your answering machine or your pager, 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 old to call the 809 number right
away. Since $2425 per-minute. Or, you'll get a long recorded message.
Thepoint 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 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 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
&T Field Service Manager
(920) 687-904 &T Web
Site http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html#thre/s/