Thanks Mark! Geo -----Original Message----- From: Mark.Jacobs@private [mailto:Mark.Jacobs@private] Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2003 7:04 AM To: George Heuston Subject: RE: [C.r.i.m.e.-announce] FW: [NW-LEO] Area Code 809 Scam Hi George, Thank you for the information. While the 809 scam does exist and does cost consumers and businesses money, some of the information cited in the email is simply not true, such as the amount being charged. Also, you will notice that the person cited as an AT&T Field Service Mananger has an incomplete phone number, and therefore cannot be contacted easily, if she even exists. Here is some additional information from AT&T's site: http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html#b Again, the 809 scam is *not* a hoax, but the information presented in the email is not completely accurate and has many qualities that make it similar to a hoax message. I wanted you to be aware. Thanks! Mark Jacobs, CISSP -----Original Message----- From: George Heuston [mailto:GeorgeH@private] Sent: Monday, May 05, 2003 9:20 AM To: crime@private; crime-announce@private Subject: [C.r.i.m.e.-announce] FW: [NW-LEO] Area Code 809 Scam -----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 > > _______________________________________________ NW-LEO mailing list NW-LEO@private http://lists.whiteknighthackers.com/mailman/listinfo/nw-leo _______________________________________________ C.r.i.m.e.-announce mailing list C.r.i.m.e.-announce@private http://lists.whiteknighthackers.com/mailman/listinfo/c.r.i.m.e.-announce
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