E-mail Phone Scam Warning !

[Deleted User]

This in from Ifish friend Dan E.:

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=21
> 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 Paul Bruemmer and Brian Stains 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. 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 the call without being c 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, investigate further and/or
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 our 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 so they don't get ripped off.
>
> Joan L. Mills
> Program Support Center
> Human Resource Services
> System Design and Analysis Division
> 301-504-3136

[happybrew]

Thanks RT! I've forwarded this to everyone I know.

happybrew

[Smj]

Hi RT, I've heard of that 809 phone scam before so I thought I check it out. I typed "urban legends" into my browser.
Read this:
809 Area Code Phone Scam

08/05/99 - Various alerts are now circulating warning consumers not to respond to phone, pager, or email requests to dial a number beginning with the 809 area code to "settle an unpaid account" to "collect a wonderful prize," etc. According to the alerts, the area code is in the Caribbean and can be set up as a "pay-per-call" number (like 900 numbers in the U.S.). People who respond to these requests can get stuck with a whopping phone bill for an international call.

This information is basically true. The warnings originated in an edition of Internet ScamBusters, a respectable newsletter that keeps subscribers apprised of current frauds and scams. The original article appeared in 1996, but a recent AT&T publication indicates that the scam is still active.

Multiple versions of the alert exist because people can and do alter such texts before sending them on, which means the specific message you receive may or may not contain accurate details.

For that reason, recipients are best advised not to forward warnings like these any further. If you feel compelled to warn your friends of the telephone scam, send them the URL of the original article instead: http://www.scambusters.org/ScamBusters8.html

Update: Why was this 1996 alert revived three years later? David Spalding ventures a theory in the latest edition of Hoax du Jour.

Smj