-----Original Message----- > > >>
> From: Armstrong, James D. > > >> > Sent: Thursday, August
31, 2000 7:18 AM > > >> > To: GRP Sugar Land
Building > > >> > Subject: TELEPHONE SCAM > >
>> > > > >> > Dear All: > > >> > I
received this notice from one of our telephone support > > >>
> vendors. Please take a moment and read through this and pass
it > > >> > along. I have heard of this scam before, and
apparently it is still > > >> > going on. > >
>> > > > >> > Regards, > > >> >
Jimmy Armstrong > > >> > > > >> > >
> >> > > > >> > FYI..below... > >
>> > * 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! 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. > > >> > * 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 versions 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'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! > > >> > >
> >> > * 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
$100.00. > > >> > > > >> > > >
>> > * 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 > >
>> 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 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 message to
your friends, family and > > >> > colleagues to help them
become aware of this scam so they don't get > > >> ripped >
> >> > off. > > >> > > > >>
> > > >> > James D. Armstrong > > >> >
Sr.Telecomm Staff Prof., > > >> > Telecommunications
Department > > >> > Lafayette Telephone: (337)
295-6676 > > >> > Sugar Land Telephone: (281) 287-7556 >
> >> > Fax: (337) 295-6758 > > >> > Internet:
JArmstrong@unocal.com <mailto:JArmstrong@unocal.com > >
>
