[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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