Scam alert!

[Dom@nsmb.com]

Post subject: Not Bike Related, But Important!!

Looks like this scam is still going on!! It has been awhile since I last heard of this going on, but a read on and go to the web site listed below for more info


Subject: IMPORTANT


Importance: High
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 did
not respond. Then this week, we received the following email:

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" 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 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 or Canada, 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 $2410.00.

WHY IT WORKS:
The 809 area code is located in the British Virgin Islands
Bahamas. The 809 area code can be used as a "pay-per-call
"number, similar to 900 numbers in the US and Canada.

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. and Canadian 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 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 .
Additional information can be obtained from the
following AT&T
Web Site
http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html#thre/s/

scary - thanks for the heads up dom.

[brock]

A little more info from the At&t site linked in the post above:

The Facts About The 809 Area Code Scam
Fraudsters have been distributing bogus e-mails through the Internet that are purported to come from AT&T. The topic, a phone scam involving the 809 area code. The scam itself is real, however, the e-mail and warning contain erroneous information. AT&T would like to set the record straight and separate fact from fiction.

The 809 area code scam first surfaced five years ago and continues to victimize consumers on occasion, although much less frequently than in the past. And there have been far more inquiries recently than consumers actually being victimized.

How the Scam Works:

In most cases a message is left on an answering machine or pager requesting the recipient call a number immediately for one of several reasons. The most common involves calling for information about a relative who has died, been arrested or injured. When consumers fall prey and call the number, the scam artist attempts to keep the caller on the line for as long as possible to increase the caller

[white ri0t]

Hey Dom, I wanna talk to you about this. gimme a call, 1-809-928-0856. Thanks

[gearwh0re]

Originally posted by Count Blah
that is scary....2400 a minute

that is CDN. $9.99US ain't to bad

[Dom@nsmb.com]

Originally posted by Derek Diggler
Hey Dom, I wanna talk to you about this. gimme a call, 1-809-928-0856. Thanks

Yeah right you bastard, trying to trick me into phone hell! No freebee for ya

[white ri0t]

k, if someone gets this email post up the digits. let's see what happens when you
a) call collect
b) call from a payphone
k?

[Zaskar]

hahaha call from a pay phone?!?!!? imagine paying 2400$ dollars in quarters jk

[white ri0t]

Originally posted by Zaskar
hahaha call from a pay phone?!?!!? imagine paying 2400$ dollars in quarters jk

to see if it was true

[Midas]

Originally posted by Derek Diggler
k, if someone gets this email post up the digits. let's see what happens when you
a) call collect
b) call from a payphone
k?

Bwhahah callcollect, turn those bastards intothe poor house bwhahahaha

[ronald55555]

call me dumb, but how does this work? how does the scam artist get money?
where is the extra money we're paying going to?

[BiG D]

Originally posted by ronald55555
call me dumb, but how does this work? how does the scam artist get money?
where is the extra money we're paying going to?

maybe he runs a phone billing company?

[243_ht]

to the people who are scamming you.

[ronald55555]

Originally posted by 243_ht
to the people who are scamming you.

but how do they get the money?
when u pay ur phone bill, u pay to the company u are signed up w/? like at&t

[Burnsie]

I just phoned an 809 area code number, im still alive.