This message originally had lots of junk at the top of it and too many >
signs to count. I have cleaned it up and placed it below for those who
have problems with the original as I did. I do not know if this is
true. It seems not to be due to the way it was spread but I am seking
clarification on this and will post when recieved.
Subj: Don't ever dial area code 809
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US BY AT&T.
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 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" 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 $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 charged. Further, where
as
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 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.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Harvey Boots" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2002 10:48 PM
Subject: Fwd: Fw: DON'T DIAL 809 AREA CODE
This appears to be true. If anyone knows different, lease let us know.
Harvey Boots
---- Original Message ------
From: "Adele Rowland" <[log in to unmask]
Subject: Fwd: Fw: DON'T DIAL 809 AREA CODE
Date: Wed, 06 Mar 2002 03:04:48 +0000
>From: "Rowland" <[log in to unmask]
>To: "Kristy Hennen" <[log in to unmask]>, "Sue Ostrander"
><[log in to unmask]>, "Carmen Watland" <[log in to unmask]>, "Trisha
>Ostrander" <[log in to unmask]>, "Lori Breitweser"
><[log in to unmask]>, "Wayne Procopio" <[log in to unmask]>, "Jim/Kris
>Beck" <[log in to unmask]>, "Sandy/Dale Rowland" <[log in to unmask]>,
>"Adele Rowland" <[log in to unmask]>, "Sarah Heem"
><[log in to unmask]>, "Dee Sabin" <[log in to unmask]
>Subject: Fw: DON'T DIAL 809 AREA CODE
>Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 19:24:35 -0600
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <[log in to unmask]
>To: <[log in to unmask]
>Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 11:01 AM
>Subject: FW: DON'T DIAL 809 AREA CODE
>> Jean Rowland, CISR
>> Wells Fargo Insurance, Inc.-Grand Rapids
>> 218/326-9404
>> Fax:218/326-1432
>> Mac#N9503-011
>> Please remember that coverage cannot be changed or bound via e-mail.
>>> ----------
>>> From: Adams, Dave
>>> Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 10:54 AM
>>> To: G=WFI P&C GREATER MN; 'Pemberton, Peggy'; 'Sparks, Ruthie';
>'White,
>>> Barb'; 'Williams, Chris'
>>> Subject: FW: DON'T DIAL 809 AREA CODE
>>> Please read this carefully. It involves a scam using the 809 area
>code.
>>> Please do not use the 809 area code. Thanks.
>>> Dave Adams, CIC
>>> Vice President-District Manager
>>> Wells Fargo Insurance, Inc.
>>> MAC# N9500-051
>>> 218-726-9311, 218-727-6720, Fax
>>> Please remember that coverage cannot be changed or bound via e-mail.
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Spencer, Linda [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>>> Sent: Monday, February 25, 2002 11:17 AM
>>> To: Bloomington; [log in to unmask];
>[log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: FW: DON'T DIAL 809 AREA CODE
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Band, Josh
>>> Sent: Monday, February 25, 2002 10:55 AM
>>> To: Spencer, Linda
>>> Subject: FW: DON'T DIAL 809 AREA CODE
>>> For distribution. Non-Metro office also. JB
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Dan Goldapp [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>>> Sent: Monday, February 25, 2002 10:45 AM
>>> To: Joshua Band (E-mail); bill niezer (E-mail); Tom Schaefer
(E-mail);
>>> keith burkhardt (E-mail); Lee Stacey (E-mail)
>>> Subject: Fw: DON'T DIAL 809 AREA CODE
>>> FYI - Wanted you to be aware of this.
>>> Dan
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Marilyn Campbell [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>>> Sent: Monday, February 25, 2002 10:08 AM
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: Fw: DON'T DIAL 809 AREA CODE - WARNING- see my message-mjc`
>>> I am forwarding this email as the telephone scam does exist and has
>>> existed for some time. Always be careful when receiving messages
>asking
>>> you to call an unknown area code.
>>> Thanks. Marilyn
>>> Subject: Fw: DON'T DIAL 809 AREA CODE - WARNING
>>> Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2002 14:22:08 -0500
>>> Subj: Don't ever dial area code 809
>>> THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US BY AT&T.
>>> 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 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" 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 $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 charged. Further,
where
>as
>>> 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 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.
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VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask] In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
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