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> >
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