Various Scams 1
CAUTION! 809 area code...
Don't respond to email, phone calls, or pages which tell you to call an "809" phone number . The 809 area code is located in the British Virgin Islands (the Bahamas). This scam is spreading *extremely* quickly, can easily cost you $100 or more, and is difficult to avoid unless you are aware of it.
Here's how it works:
Scenario #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 being 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 at Global Communications at 1-809-000-0000."
Scenario #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, died, 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 be charged $25 per minute or more! 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 to keep you on the phone as long as possible to
increase the connect charges.
The 809 area code can be used as a "pay per call" number, similar to 900 and 976 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, 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, as fighting the charges afterwards can become a real nightmare. You did, after all, make the call. If you complain, both our 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 insists they have done nothing wrong.
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