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 $24,100.00.

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 war! y 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

__________________
Irish---Better to be dead & cool,then alive & uncool!
(Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man)

I just got this,in an e-mail,from my wife at work.I thought that I
would pass it on,because it might help someone. Irish

__________________
Irish---Better to be dead & cool,then alive & uncool!
(Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man)

I say if we catch em let's hang the bastards the good old fashioned way!

__________________
I am here for only a short time on this earth. My goal is to make everyone I see smile if only for a moment.

Damn they're getting sneaky.

__________________
Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating

Irish,

Thank you sir. These people should be taken out back and beaten!

__________________
Eudaimonia

It's amazing,how many people,fall for various scams!
Example:I subscribe to Muscle & Fitness and Flex Magazines.I
recently got a bill in the mail,saying that my subscription,to Flex,
was about to expire & asking $??.?? for another year.Both magazines,are published by Weider.I really like Flex & thought that,on my last renewel,I had renewed for two yrs.I called the Weider swithboard & explained my problem to them.They checked
their records & I was right.They asked why I thought my subscription,was up.I told them,that I had recieved a bill from
XXX Publishing Co.They said-Say no more!Somehow,the other
company,had gotten a copy,of their mailing list & was sending out
bills.They said-At least you checked.You wouldn't believe,how
many people,just pay the bill,for nothing.It's the companys scam,
& the people recieve nothing or pay twice!MORAL:Check everything! Irish

__________________
Irish---Better to be dead & cool,then alive & uncool!
(Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man)

Thanks for the scam tip off.I heard something like this a couple of years ago, but never knew what happened to it.I keep getting calls from magazine subscription companys thanking me for my past subscribing but due to an error on their part,I haven't received all of the mazazines I have subscribed to.I usually say fine,you got my address,FED EX them to me all at once.heh heh

__________________
Sex is one of nine reasons for reincarnation.The other eight are unimportant...Henry Miller

Thanks for the warning Irish.

I used to work in teleservices this past summer, but I was laid off.

I did learn something very useful only 4 area codes are toll free.

These are 800, 888, 877 and 866.

__________________
Well sir that seems to be someone else's problem.

Thanks for the tip, Irish.

Think I'll tell me ex that my new number is 809-867-9309

__________________
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

"God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)

"I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them."
- Ian L. Fleming (1908-1964)