[CH] definitely off topic but interesting!

Jc4ft35in@aol.com
Fri, 20 Aug 1999 11:39:25 EDT

    i do not know if this true but it could be and i thought that everyone or 
someone might be interested.  if not delete and i will not do it again.
>> This came from a very reliable source, so please don't holler at me if it
>is
>> a
>>  hoax, but I felt I was obligated to pass this on since I know I probably
>>  would'n't have known not to
>>  respond to something like this
>>
>>  Kathy
>>
>>  >>>> This is pretty scary -- especially given how they try to get you to
>> call.
>>  >>>>
>>  >>>> Be sure you read this & pass it on to all your friends & family so
>they
>>  >>>> don't get scammed!
>>  >>>>
>>  >>>> SPECIAL ALERT - DO NOT EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809
>>  >>>>
>>  >>>> 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
>> 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. 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.  There are lots of different permutations
of
>> this
>>  >>>>
>>  >>>> scam, but HERE'S 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 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 like to discuss this matter to avoid
>court
>>  >>>>
>>  >>>> action, call Mike Murray at Global Communications on at
>1-809-496-2700.
>>  >>>>
>>  >>>> 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, died, 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 $100.00.
>>  >>>>
>>  >>>> 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 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 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 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
>
>

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