>Sender: >To: >X-Original-Message-ID: <114f01bf05d8$693f8ab0$9acf69cf@pacbell.net> >From: "Peter McWilliams" >Subject: Buyer Beware >Date: Thu, 23 Sep 1999 08:29:22 -0700 >X-Mozilla-Status: 8001 >X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 > > > > >Subject: (Fwd) Fw: DO NOT EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809 > > > > Dear Peter, > > I recently received this and thought that you might be interested in > > the latest scam... > > Bye for now, > > Candy > > > > > > Subject: Fw: DO NOT EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809 > > Date sent: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 18:06:39 -0400 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ: > > > >DO NOT EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809 > > > >Don't respond to emails, phone calls, or pages which tell > > > >you to call an"809" phone number. This is a very important issue of > > > >Internet ScamBusters! because it alerts you to a scam that is: spreading > > > >extremely quickly, can easily cost you $100 or more, and is difficult to > > > >avoid unless you are aware of it. This scam has also been identified by > > > >the National Fraud Information Center and is costing victims > > > >a lot of money. There are lots of different permutations of this scam, > > > >but here is how it works: > > > >Permutation #1: Internet based phone scam via email. You > > > >receive an email, typically with a subject line of "ALERT" or "Unpaid > > > >Account." The message, which is spammed across the net, says: "I am > > > >writing to give you a final 24 hrs. to settle your outstanding account. > > > >If I have not received the settlement in full, I will commence legal > > > >proceedings without further delay. If you would like to discuss this > > > >matter to avoid court action, call Mike Murray, Global Communications at > > > >(809) 496-2700. Permutation #2: Phone or pager scam. You > > > >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, dead, or to let > > > >you know you have won a wonderful prize, etc. In each case, you're 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 $25 per minute. Sometimes > > > >the person who answers the phone will speak broken English and pretend > > > >not to understand you. Other times you'll just 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 $100. Here's why > > > >it works: the 809 area code is located in the British Virgin Islands. > > > >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 US > > > >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 US phones have 900 number blocking (to avoid these > > > >kinds of charges), 900 number blocking will not prevent 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, investigate further and/or disregard the message. Be very > > > >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 issue of Internet Scambusters! to your friends, family and > > > >colleagues to help them become aware of this scam so they don't get > > > >ripped off. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >================================================================ > >This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to > the mailing list . >To unsubscribe, E-mail to: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------