Mopos -
Just got this email forwarded to me.
Not sure if it in itself is a scam -
but thought I would share in case this truly does expose
a new and deadly phish in the sea.
Alan A.
HERE IS THE FORWARDED MESSAGE:
IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT 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.
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, 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 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
AT&T Field Service Manager
(920)687-904
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