CRIME FW: [NW-LEO] Area Code 809 Scam

GeorgeH@private

-----Original Message-----
From: George Heuston 
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2003 8:55 AM
To: nw-leo@private
Subject: [NW-LEO] Area Code 809 Scam

The Area Code 809 scam is coming back.  Here's some additional info on
it:
http://www.scambusters.org/809Scam.html

Geo

-----Original Message-----
From: Alex C. Johnson, Jr. [mailto:AlexJohnson@private] 
Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2003 9:13 AM
To: George Heuston
Subject: FW: Scary FYI Please read

George:
The email message below is from a friend relaying a warning he received
about Area code 809 message scams.  Have you anything about it?

Alexander C. Johnson, Jr.

> >809  Area Code
> >
> >We actually received a call last week from the 809 area code.
> >The woman said "Hey, this is Karen.  Sorry I missed you--get back to
us
> >quickly.
> >Have something important to tell you."   Then she repeated a phone
number
> >beginning with 809.
> >We didn't respond.
> >
> >Then this week, we received the following e-mail:
> >
> >Subject: DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809, 284 AND 876
> >
> >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,
where
as
> >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
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE*
> http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
>
>
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