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Fw: FW: Possible phone scam

I hope you don't mind that I am forwarding this message concerning a phone
scam.  You may have heard about it previously, but it doesn't hurt to remind
people to beware of these things!

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nina Eason" <heidi654@juno.com>
To: <harrells@seamless.net>; <landcfrank@juno.com>; <CALORADGAL@aol.com>;
<mmsectry2@aol.com>; <gingersnap1938@yahoo.com>; <nmeason@preciscom.net>
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2004 2:36 PM
Subject: Fw: FW: Possible phone scam


>
>
>
--- Begin Message ---
Title: FW: Possible phone scam

Hi all,
There is a popular scam in action that asks people to dial a phone number in the 809 area code. Its even listed on AT&T's web site.

http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html#b
Fraudsters have been distributing bogus e-mails through the Internet that are purported to come from AT&T. The topic, a phone scam involving the 809 area code. The scam itself is real, however, the e-mail and warning contain erroneous information. AT&T would like to set the record straight and separate fact from fiction.

The 809 area code scam first surfaced five years ago and continues to victimize consumers on occasion, although much less frequently than in the past. And there have been far more inquiries recently than consumers actually being victimized.

And SBC
http://www.sbc.com/gen/general?pid=1701
Some scam artists are using the 809 area code to trick consumers into running up high charges on their phone bills. Be alert when responding to e-mails, phone calls, numeric pages or voice mail messages that tell you to call a phone number with an 809 area code to collect a prize, find out about a sick relative, etc.


Glen
______________________________________________
From:   Engelhard, Fred 
Sent:   Thursday, August 19, 2004 9:41 AM
To:     van Mourik, Brad; Ebbett, Carol; Classical Music Publications; Wilkins, Colleen; Parsons, David; McLaren, Donald; Quinto, Elena; Shiery, Glen; goransusan; Childers, Greg; jab; James Coburn; Feagin, Jim; Jeff Cady (jcady@fullerton.edu); Jennifer Englehard; Larry Cummings; Melissa Shaw; pch1@joimail.com; Richard; sdnguyen@ssreng.com; Shapiro, Mark; Karl, Stephen; Fisher, Susan; Taine; teamdurham@cox.net; Woodington, Tim (Space Systems)

Subject:        Possible phone scam

All,

Got this, this morning, 8/19/04, from one of our staff members.  This may or may not be new, but I thought that I’d pass this info on to as many as possible so you can make up your own minds.  If it’s not one scam it’s another, but always nice to have a heads up just in case.  If any of you have any further info on this scam please fill me in.  I’d really appreciate it.  The text that follows was forwarded several times dating back to July 10, 2004, so it’s been around a month or so.  Being forewarned is being forearmed,... four-armed?  Have a great day anyway!

Sincerely,

Fred

Subject: FW: Phone Scam
>
> Subject: 809 AREA CODE
>
>
> We actually received a call last week from the 809 area code.
> The woman said "Hey, this is Karen.  Sorry I missed you--get back to
us
> quickly.
> Have something important to tell you."   Then she repeated a phone
number
> beginning with 809. We didn't respond.
>
> Then this week, we received the following e-mail from AT&T:
>
> Subject: DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809, 284 AND 876
>
> 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" area 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 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 e-mail, 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




Fred Engelhard
California State University, Fullerton
Physics Department
Wk:   (714) 278-2148
Fax:  (714) 278-5810
Email:  fengelhard@fullerton.edu




--- End Message ---