BE ON ALERT FOR A NEW SCAM: DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809!

This one is being distributed all over the US. It's 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 that 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 $24,100 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:

You will receive a message on your answering machine or your pager that 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 or has 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. With so many new area codes these days, people unknowingly return these calls. If you call from the U.S., you will apparently be charged $2,425 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.

WHY IT WORKS:

The 809 area code is located in the British Virgin Islands (the Bahamas).

It can be used as a "pay-per-call" number, similar to 900 numbers in the U.S. Since 809 is not in the U.S., 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. 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 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 so they don't get ripped off. Just got this in a e-mail alert. If this is accurate then we should post the 809 number so we won't forget it.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), December 04, 2000

Answers

They sure are upping the ante. Afew years back it was being done on pagers to a NYC area code and cost $5 a call. This gets entered into our call block. Thanks.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), December 04, 2000.

I don't know how accurate the info is since the Bahamas area code is 242 and Trinidad has the 809 area code.

-- nobrabbit (conlane@prodigy.net), December 04, 2000.

I got this alert about 6 weeks ago on e-mail, Scam? I don't know. Seems like it would have made the national news by now if it is that big. Just a thought - diane

-- Diane Green (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), December 04, 2000.

Checked the Snopes Urban Legends site.

http://www.snopes2.com/

This is apparently partially true, clipped this from the site: "Dire warnings against calling numbers in the 809 area code are circulating on the net because these numbers have often been used in scams designed to run up the phone bills of unsuspecting. The warnings are correct, but the information is both outdated and exaggerated. Calls to the 809 area code are not generally billed at an astoundingly higher rate than calls made to any other area code (certainly not the $2,245 per minute claimed); the scam kicks in because this area code is assigned to another country (the Dominican Republic, not the British Virgin Islands as stated) where scammers make deals with local phone companies to split the long distance fees run up by callers who are deliberately kept on the line while the clock ticks and the charges mount. So the warnings are right that you can get suckered, just not about how this will happen."

If you want to read more about it, go to the Snopes site above, and search on 809 Phone Scam to find it.

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), December 04, 2000.

They'll have to do better than that to get me to call em. I don't regularly call anyone with an area code outside of my own. If I do, I use the free internet phone services. I know a lot of people call anytime/anywhere, and I guess they have more money to burn than I do. Last months long distance bill came today...calls/fees/taxes came to $1.86. Last month it was 34cents. Yes, they mailed me a bill for 34cents.

-- phil (phillipbriggs@thenett.com), December 04, 2000.

Thanks for the heads up. I never gave much thought to area codes being costly except for the 900 one, now I know to beware.

-- Tina (clia88@newmexico.com), December 05, 2000.

http://www.bellatlantic.com/security/fraud/area.htm

i don't think bellatlantic would have any reason to provide false information, this is the most reliable source i found.

-- michael m. (mbm24@drexel.edu), December 05, 2000.

The 809 area code covers most of what is considered to be the Caribbean.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), December 06, 2000.

Your welcome Tina. Just wanted to pass it own. I've had weird charges on my phone bill and wouldn't be surprised if some people tried this scam.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), December 06, 2000.

Yes,it is true. You can be charged over $20,000. I just got my phone bill and the same warning came with it.

-- Mike B. (jake@2ki.net), December 09, 2000.

http://urbanlegends.about.com/science/urbanlegends/library/blhoax.htm Check this site for info on hoax's before you forward them or give them any serious consideration. TomB

-- TomB (tombasin@alltel.net), May 31, 2001.