Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below 
I
ion
Guest
Subject: ALERT- area code scam
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 & 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 $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 US, you will
apparently be charged $2425 per-minute and 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 getyour phone
bill, you'll often be charged more than $24,000.00.
WHY IT WORKS:
The 809 area code is located 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.
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 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. Things are about to get worse, because that
infamous off-shore area code (809) is in the process
of breaking up into smaller ones. Soon, you will 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/
AT&T's fraud information page
http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html#three
Note error:
Brittish Virgins and Bahamas are not the same.
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 & 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 $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 US, you will
apparently be charged $2425 per-minute and 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 getyour phone
bill, you'll often be charged more than $24,000.00.
WHY IT WORKS:
The 809 area code is located 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.
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 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. Things are about to get worse, because that
infamous off-shore area code (809) is in the process
of breaking up into smaller ones. Soon, you will 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/
AT&T's fraud information page
http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html#three
Note error:
Brittish Virgins and Bahamas are not the same.
