I wanted to pass this along to the community. This was an alert distributed at my business today - pretty nasty, especially for those who carry pagers - please be aware!
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 email:
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,
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.
(name deleted for forward only)
AT&T Field Service Manager
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 email:
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,
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.
(name deleted for forward only)
AT&T Field Service Manager
