Lulua
29-11-2002, 11:27
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION PROVIDED 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" 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
>$24,000.00.
> >
> >WHY IT WORKS:
> >
> >The 809 area code is located in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 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 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 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 t hey 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
> >Additional information can be obtained from the following AT&T Web
>Site
>
**Note: I have checked about the area code, and that given (809) is in fact for the Dominican Republic, as this warning mentions.
> >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" 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
>$24,000.00.
> >
> >WHY IT WORKS:
> >
> >The 809 area code is located in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 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 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 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 t hey 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
> >Additional information can be obtained from the following AT&T Web
>Site
>
**Note: I have checked about the area code, and that given (809) is in fact for the Dominican Republic, as this warning mentions.