That sounded suspiciously like another urban legend, but it appears to be
perfectly true. This from AT&T's web site:
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Donald R McKenna
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2001 22:50
To: autox- ba Email list
Subject: FW: [ telephone security]
Not AutoX content and you may have already heard, but sounds like good info,
anyway.
Don
Subject: telephone security
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2001 12:37:45 -0800
From: "Tim and Chris Marshall" <LIONWINGFAN@prodigy.net>
Organization: Prodigy Internet
To: "Jackie/Eric" <doc.ej.mar@i-is.com>
Subject: phone scam warning
Received this today, thought it was worth forwarding.
PLEASE PASS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW
Received a telephone call last evening from an individual
identifying himself as an AT&T Service technician who was conducting a
test on
telephone lines. He stated that to complete the test I should
touch nine(9),zero(0), the pound sign (#), and then hang up.
Luckily, I was suspicious and refused. Upon contacting the
telephone company, I was informed that by pushing 90#, you give the
requesting individual full access to your telephone line, which enables
them
to place long distance calls billed to your home phone number. I was
further informed that this scam has been originating from many
localjails/prisons.
I have also verified this information with UCB Telecom, Pacific
Bell, MCI, Bell Atlantic and GTE. Please beware. DO NOT press 90# for
ANYONE. The GTE Security Department requested that I share this
information with EVERYONE I KNOW.
PLEASE pass this on to everyone YOU know. If you have mailing
lists and/or newsletters from organizations you are connected with, I
encourage you to pass on this information to them, too.
After checking with Verizon they said it was true so do not dial(9),
zero(0), the pound sign # and hang up for anyone.
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