If you are ever unsure just look it up http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/809.asp
-----Original Message----- From: MoPo List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Alan Adler Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 2:09 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [MOPO] AREA CODE SCAM 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 > > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
