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- SCAM: Don't Respond To Emails, Phone Calls, Or Pages
Which Tell You To Call An "809" Phone Number
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- 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.
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- We'd like to thank Paul Bruemmer and Brian Stains 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.
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- There are lots of different permutations of this scam,
but here is how it works:
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- 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 being spammed across
the net, says: I am writing to give you a final 24hrs 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 to discuss this
matter to avoid court action, call Mike Murray, Global Communications at
(809) 496-2700.
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- 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 to 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.
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- 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!
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- Here's 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.
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- 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 emails or calls asking you to call an 809 area code number.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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