Fw: NEVER DIAL AREA CODE 809

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----- Original Message -----
From: kamelang
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 11:40 AM
Subject: Fw: NEVER DIAL AREA CODE 809

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----- Original Message -----
From: Cherise Hayes
To: Tricia DuBois ; Rocky Stevens ; Robyn ; Mike M ; Mike A ; Melissa ; Karyn
; Brent Redus ; Brian South ; Karl ; Julia ; Jennifer Carranza ; Frances
; Dad ; Connie ; Chad Seger ; Bill Roberts
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 11:12 AM
Subject: Fw: NEVER DIAL AREA CODE 809

<< <? 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
? < < < < <& pass it on to all your friends & 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" Phone Number.? This is a very important issue of Scam
? < < Busters
? < < < < <3D21 because it alerts you to a scam that is spreading
*extremely*
? < < < < <quickly - can easily cost you $24100 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 & is costing victims a lot of money.? There are lots of
? < < <different
? < < < < <permutations of this scam, but 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? $24100.00.
? < < < < <
? < < < < <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 &
? < < warned
? < < < < <of charges & 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. 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'trecognize
? < < < < < and/or investigate further and just disregard the message.
? < < < < <
? < < < < <Be 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 your local phone company & your long
distance
? < < < < <carrier will not want to get involved & will most likely tell
you
? < < that
? < < < < they're
? < < < < <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 &
? < < colleagues
? < < < < < to help them become aware of this scam so they don't get ripped
? off.