Fwd: area code warning-scam warning (from John Dawson)
Note: forwarded message attached.
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Next-gen email? Have it all with the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
Myth Blaster - Area Code Scam Warning CJ, Wisconsin wants to know if the scam busting area code scam is real.
The claim is, according to Urban Legends, unsuspecting phone customers have been gulled by scam artists into placing calls to area codes in the Caribbean that result in hefty charges.
The following is what was sent to CJ:
Subject: DONT EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809 , 284 AND 876
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US BY AT&T. DONT 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.
They get you to call by telling you that it is information about a family member who has been ill or to tell you someone has-been arrested, died, or 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, youll 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, youll 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 charges afterwards can become a real nightmare. Thats 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 th ey are simply providing the billing for the foreign company. Youll 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
Myth Buster Verdict: The scam is real, but Urban Legends gives some important information to consider:
Not every phone number in the 809 area code is part of this scam, and calling such a number will not necessarily result in exorbitantly large charges on your phone bill. Most 809 numbers are ordinary, legitimate phone numbers.
CJs email also includes other numbers besides 809 and scams have occurred with other area codes other than 809. The amount of money involved here has been exaggerated and things added to it since it first hit the Internet in 2000. This scam is not common and the average American citizen will probably never encounter anyone trying to use it. The scam usually preys upon American and Canadian residents who are unfamiliar with the complex system of telephone services, which is probably most of us. The scammers lure people by telling them they have won sweepstakes or a lottery prize and they must call to claim, a family member is ill or seriously injured, has something to do with an overdue bill or credit card problem and requires your immediate attention, has something to do with mystery shoppers or something to do with employment. Once the person calls the number it is connected to a fax machine, a recorded message or a pay-per-call service with expensive fees. Alerts
have been posted at the site called National Fraud Information Center (NFIC) that alerts businessmen concerning this scam. The Better Business Bureau recommends that no matter how consumers are approached, they should investigate or just disregard the message. You can also find information from AT&Ts fraud information page.
Thanks, CJ, for your submittal.
Published in:
Myth Blaster
on June 23, 2006 at 6:46 am
Janice
---------------------------------
Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business.