Fw: [alternacare] READ THIS - IT'S TRUE

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message -----

From: " The Havens " <thehavens@...>

<Recipient list suppressed>

Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2003 8:11 PM

Subject: [alternacare] READ THIS - IT'S TRUE

> I checked this out on urban legends (www.snopes.com) and it is true!

> It has happened before and it's happening again.

>

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> 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 " 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 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC . 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 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 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

> (920) 687-904

> Additional information can be obtained from the following AT & T Web Site

>

>

<http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html#thre/s/>http://www.att.com/fraud/home.ht

ml#thre/s/

>

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