Fwd: 809 Area Code Scam

From: John Frank Anderson <ja3k+@andrew.cmu.edu>

Date: Sun, 20 Oct 1996 00:00:00 +0000

---------- Forwarded message begins here ----------

mms.4.170.Jun.27.1996.16.34.50.sun4.51.MacMail.5.2.CUILIB.3.45.SNAP.NOT.L
INKED.pcs45.andrew.cmu.edu.sun4m.54
          via MS.5.6.pcs45.andrew.cmu.edu.sun4_51;
          Sun, 20 Oct 1996 20:40:43 -0400 (EDT)
ReSent-Message-ID: <EmOgO=u00iWp0=vGw0@andrew.cmu.edu>
ReSent-Date: Sun, 20 Oct 1996 20:40:43 -0400 (EDT)
ReSent-From: Lynne M Reder <reder+@CMU.EDU>
ReSent-To: John Anderson <ja+@CMU.EDU>,
    John Frank Anderson <ja3k+@andrew.cmu.edu>
X-Andrew-WideReply: cmu.cs.general
Path: andrew.cmu.edu!bb3.andrew.cmu.edu!cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!bnoble
From: bnoble@cs.cmu.edu (Brian Noble)
Newsgroups: cmu.cs.general
Subject: 809 Area Code Scam
Date: 19 Oct 1996 19:23:13 GMT
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon
Lines: 82
Message-ID: <54b9r1$3ke@cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu>
NNTP-Posting-Host: pachelbel.coda.cs.cmu.edu

>SCAM: Don't Respond To Emails, Phone Calls, Or 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 - both will receive Internet
>ScamBusters! tee shirts.  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 is 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 +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 to 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.
>
>
>Bart Grossman MSW, PhD
>Fieldwork Director and Associate Adjunct Professor
>
>University of California at Berkeley
>School of Social Welfare
>120 Haviland Hall
>Berkeley, CA 94720