-----Original Message----- From: Wong, Don R. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Friday, October 12, 2001 8:25 AM To: 'kim'; 'jay'; 'dad' Subject: FW: Scam Check this out, big time scam.... Donny > > > > Subject: FW: Area Code 809 Scam > > 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 & 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 $24100 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 lot 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 $24100.00. > > 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, 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 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 WebSite > <http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html#thre/s/> > > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DesignerCouncil Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8d To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF DesignerCouncil. To set a vacation stop for delivery of DesignerCouncil send: SET DesignerCouncil NOMAIL Search previous postings at: www.ipc.org > On-Line Resources & Databases > E-mail Archives Please visit IPC web site (http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm) for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------