| Status | Hoax | | Comments | This is a hoax message that describes a real scam. The real scam works much like the warning, but the numbers are wrong. The 809 area code serves the Dominican Republic and thus is an overseas call even though you dial it just like a long distance call within the U.S. | | Description | 242 - Bahamas
284 - British Virgin Islands
In addition to the scambusters report, you can read about this scam on the A. T. & T. website. To see where an area code is located, call your operator or look it up on the Telecommunications Research & Action Center site.
SPECIAL ALERT - DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809 This is pretty scary --
especially given how they try to get you to call. Be sure you read this
& pass it on to all your friends & family so they don't get scammed!
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 Internet
ScamBusters! Because it alerts you to a scam that is spreading *extremely*
quickly - can easily cost you $100 or more, and - is difficult to avoid
unless you are aware of it. We'd like to thank Paul Bruemmer and Brian
Stains 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, but
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:
Permutation #1: Internet Based Phone Scam Via Email You receive an email,
typically with a subject line of "*ALERT*" or "Unpaid account." The
message, which is being spammed across the net, says:
I am writing to give you a final 24hrs to settle your outstanding account..
If I have not received the settlement in full, I will commence legal
proceedings without further delay. If you would like to discuss this
matter to avoid court action, call Mike Murray at Global Communications on
at 1-809-496-2700.
Permutation #2: Phone Or Pager Scam You 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're 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 $25
per-minute! Sometimes the person who answers the phone will speak broken
English and pretend not to understand you. Other times, you'll just 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 $100.00.
HERE'S 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 US 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 US 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,
investigate further and/or disregard the message. Be *very* 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 our 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 issue of Internet ScamBusters! To
your friends, family and colleagues to help them become aware of this scam
so they don't get ripped off.
| | Related links | Scambusters 809
A. T. & T
Telecommunications Research & Action Center
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