Area Code Scam - Must Read!

sbaik · 05-16-2006, 11:54 AM

This is a message that was forwarded from an AT&T employee.

Quote:

----IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT AREA CODES
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 Dominican Republic, 284 is in the British Virgin Islands (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.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/warnings-and-alerts/197956-area-code-scam-must-read.html

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 cal! l a numb er 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.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=197956

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

angisson · 05-16-2006, 12:10 PM

Ok, I was not going to beleve you.. as I don't beleve most if this sh!t thats out there.. I jsut don't... ppl just make it up in there free time

so for me having nothing better to do.. I went to att.com and looked it up... and sur enough your right.... I know, but there is so many hoaxs out there you are never for sure...

http://att.sbc.com/gen/general?pid=1701

Thanks for the heads up

wvccboy · 05-16-2006, 12:26 PM

never heard of that area code anyway; not important to me!

DylanButler · 05-17-2006, 07:49 AM

T-mobile already charges me $3.00/min long distance so that would be just plain outrageous!

dcgamers · 05-18-2006, 07:14 PM

not important here ether.

05-18-2006, 07:43 PM

http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/hoax...+Code+809+Hoax

labrocca · 05-18-2006, 07:59 PM

This is an old old scam...been around for years. Yeah it's messed up and you can read some of the victims horror stories.

dnb8 · 05-19-2006, 04:58 PM

thats why I'm only using pre-paid phones

Crusader · 05-19-2006, 05:52 PM

Most phone companies will remove the charge on your phonebill if you tell them you got scammed. In BC, if your kid calls a 1-900 number you can get the phone company to remove the charge but only once.

05-17-2006, 07:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
DylanButler NamePros Regular Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 734	T-mobile already charges me $3.00/min long distance so that would be just plain outrageous! __________________ -Dylan Butler EXAMP - San Diego Web Design

05-18-2006, 07:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
dcgamers NamePros Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NY, USA, Earth Posts: 85	not important here ether. __________________ GamerDay - Gaming news, previews, reviews DirectCheat - All the greatest hard to find gaming cheats! VgBox - All the gaming news, reviews, previews from all over the net! Qubble - Tired of Myspace? Join and get unlimited pics on your free profile!

05-18-2006, 07:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
labrocca NamePros Expert Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 6,268 Follow @supportforums	This is an old old scam...been around for years. Yeah it's messed up and you can read some of the victims horror stories. __________________ :$: Support Forum <-- My latest endeavor.:loveyou: Debate Forums Free Online Sudoku My vBum Blog

05-19-2006, 05:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
Crusader Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 1,257	Most phone companies will remove the charge on your phonebill if you tell them you got scammed. In BC, if your kid calls a 1-900 number you can get the phone company to remove the charge but only once. __________________ Near Fantastica \| Matthew Good - Vancouver TS Design Group - Vancouver, BC based Graphic Design >> Do you Frawlik? <<

05-16-2006, 12:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
angisson Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,670	Ok, I was not going to beleve you.. as I don't beleve most if this sh!t thats out there.. I jsut don't... ppl just make it up in there free time so for me having nothing better to do.. I went to att.com and looked it up... and sur enough your right.... I know, but there is so many hoaxs out there you are never for sure... http://att.sbc.com/gen/general?pid=1701 Thanks for the heads up

05-16-2006, 12:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
wvccboy Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 459	never heard of that area code anyway; not important to me!

05-18-2006, 07:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
Join Date: Dec 1969 Posts: 0	http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/hoax...+Code+809+Hoax

05-19-2006, 04:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
dnb8 x/\x/\x/\x Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lodz Posts: 1,847	thats why I'm only using pre-paid phones

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