[ALBSA-Info] [lev-open] Major Scam - Area Code 809] (fwd)

[eriola]

> >  > >          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 $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 a
> >>  >           bout 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 $24100.00.
> >>  >
> >>  >           WHY IT WORKS:
> >>  >
> >>  >           The 809 area code is located in the British Virgin
> Islands
> >>  > (TheBahamas). 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
> >>  > US 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 US 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 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.
> >>  >
> >>  >           Additional information can be obtained from the
> following
> >  > > AT&T Web Site
> >>  >
> >>  >           <<http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html#thre/s/>>
> >>  >
> >>
> >>
>>