Jerry
All, This is a message circulating the phone companies at the present. I heard something of this on the news the other night. Be advised, it is an unfortunate but real situation. David D. Gates Project Manager, DTE Cleveland East (216) 822-7896 (office) (440) 979-3569 (pager) > >> Subject: Be Aware. Don't call area code 809 > >> > >> > >> 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 $24100 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 hasbeen 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 > >> $24100.00.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 thecall 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 getthe 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. > >> > >> > >> Sandi Van Handel > >> AT&T Field Service Manager > >> (920)687-9045 > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > > > > > > >__________________________________________________ > >Do You Yahoo!? > >Yahoo! Auctions - Buy the things you want at great prices. > >http://auctions.yahoo.com/ > > > Diane Nerone > Surgical Scheduling > James Cessna, MD, FACS > Aesthetic Plastic Surgery > 1-480-948-2121 > 1-480-948-9900 > 1-800-228-2008 > FAX 1-480-991-2607 >
