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" area 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 $24,100.00.

 

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, whereas 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 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 Field Service Manager

(920)687-904

:stunned:

http://www.fresnobee.com/business/v-sl-opinion-stories/story/8798126p-9683721c.html

 

:dozey:

Uh....

err :embarrased:

 

well my office actually got a weird message from an 809 person the other day. she said "Hey, this is Karen.  Sorry I missed you--get back to us quickly.Have something important to tell you."   then repeated her number. :confused:

Unlike most of these internet "heads-up" forwards, this one is actually (somewhat) true. :stunned:

 

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/scams/809.htm

scam or no scam, the real truth lies within AT&T's own website:

 

http://www.consumer.att.com/consumertips/areacode.html

 

:cool:

So basically it's real, but not as bad as the alarmist who wrote the initial warning would have us believe.

the alarmist

thanks egghead :/ :angry:

I meant whoever wrote that warning email forward thingy, not Kyle, but whoever you want to blame. :P

i know

but i mean with a name like egghead :confused:

just informing people. :P

i guess no one will call friends in the bahamas ever again :smug:

So basically it's real' date=' but not as bad as the alarmist who wrote the initial warning would have us believe.[/quote']

 

An accurate assumption, Inspektor P. :cool:

Well, so much for that... it sounded fishy.

you smell fishy

Go back to Emma foo'.

man

i have 3 of them

which one

i didnt really like the last one

Me neither, the 2nd one was best.

 

I think it said:

 

Emma is HOT

 

That was good jerk material.

hah yeah thats my favorite too

fine fine

:stunned:

 

I gotta go to the bathroom.