809 Area Code Scam

[Sagacious1420]

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.

reg ulations 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 n ot 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.

Sandi Van Handel
AT&T

Field Service Manager
(920) 687-904

[Elana]

This one is

actually

true

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/scams/809.htm

[druid]

Well either way,

just don\'t send the money. They will shut ur phone off. But who cares, these days cell phones are cheaper

anyway.