FYI, please read

>> IS NOT A JOKE
>>
>> SUBJECT: 809 area code
>>
>> 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 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 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 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 be 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/
>
>> <
http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html#thre/s/
>>

Re: FYI, please read

I heard about this. Pretty scary

Re: FYI, please read

Is this really true? If so that really stinks!

Re: FYI, please read

i just checked this out on snopes.com, a site i use often to check out such rumors ... here is the link to what it has to say ... i am surprised that this is in fact "true," although it has some info to keep in mind ... (you'll need to scroll a little)

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/scams/809.htm

Re: FYI, please read

Actually, I posted this b/c I temped for a communications company in W.Hempstead and this happened to them.

One of the new techs got a call saying they should check a line and to dial the number, (which the employees know not to do) but this guy was new and did and within seconds every line in the business was lit up and in use b/c the lines were split lines.

Needless to say in about 5 mins. 5,000 worth of Int'l calls were made. Luckily we were able to tap into some of the calls and we ended having to notify the Secret Service and Customs Office in WTC3 to invesitigate