It actually is a scam, just not as bad as stated in your posting:
Origins: Dire warnings against calling numbers in the 809 area code are
circulating on the net because these numbers have often been used in scams
designed to run up the phone bills of unsuspecting. The warnings are
correct, but the information is both outdated and exaggerated. Calls to the
809 area code are not generally billed at an astoundingly higher rate than
calls made to any other area code (certainly not the $2,245 per minute
claimed); the scam kicks in because this area code is assigned to another
country (the Dominican Republic, not the British Virgin Islands as stated)
where scammers make deals with local phone companies to split the long
distance fees run up by callers who are deliberately kept on the line while
the clock ticks and the charges mount. So the warnings are right that you
can get suckered, just not about how this will happen.
For a very long and detailed discussion of this scam (and many others) go
to: http://www.snopes2.com/ and then search for "809".
Charley Robinson
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-british-cars@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-british-cars@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Fred Thomas
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 6:30 PM
To: triumphs@autox.team.net; british-cars@autox.team.net
Cc: spitfires@autox.team.net
Subject: 809 telephone scam very long non LBC
I pass this along, be very carefull as noted. "FT"
>
>> > >PLEASE READ THIS:
>> > >
>> > >Subject: 809 AREA CODE Warning
>> > >Warning - 809 Area Code Trick Can Be Extremely
>> > Costly
>> > >
>> > >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 along. Don't get scammed!
>> > >
>> > >MAJOR SCAM:
>> > >Don't respond to e-mails, 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-
>> > >and can easily cost you $24,100 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.
>> > >
>> > >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 U.S.,
>> > >you will apparently be charged $2,425-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
>> > $24,000!
>> > >
>> > >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 U.S. Since 809 is not
>> > in the U.S., 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, 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 and/or investigate further and just
>> > disregard the message.
>> > >
>> > >Be wary of e-mail 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 Services Manager
>> > >mailto:vanhandel@att.com >
>> > >920 687-9045
>> > >877 479-7902
>> > >920 687-9182
>> > >http://www.snopes.com/info/current.htm
>> > >http://www.snopes.com/info/current.htm> >
>> > >
>> > >Things are about to get worse, because that
>> > infamous off-shore area code
>> > >(809) is in the process of breaking up into smaller
>> > chunks, and you'll
>> > >soon have to think twice about calling any of the
>> > following area codes:
>> > >242, 246, 264, 268, 284, 345, 441, 473, 664,758,
>> > 767, 784, 787, 868,
>> > >869, 876, as well as 809.
>> > >
>> > >Better Business Bureau
>> > >http://216.46.241.4/alerts/areacode.asp
>> > >http://216.46.241.4/alerts/areacode.asp
>> > > National Fraud Information Center
>> > >http://www.fraud.org/news/1996/apr96/041296.htm
>> > >http://www.fraud.org/news/1996/apr96/041296.htm> >
>> > >AT&T's fraud information page
>> > >http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html#three
>> > >http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html#three>
>> > >http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html
>> > >http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html> >
|