Some truth to this one:
http://www.snopes2.com/inboxer/scams/809.htm
--- Ptegler <ptegler@gouldfo.com> wrote:
> forwarded from a business list
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Schwarten, Dave
> Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2001 11:48 AM
> To: All Hands
> Subject: Phone Scam
> Importance: High
>
>
> > Please read the details below and be careful of
> e-mails, phone calls or
> > pages with call back numbers to an 809 area code.
>
> > Thanks, Dave
>
>
> > 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. It
> > can easily cost you $24,100 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 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 $24,100.00.
> >
> > 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 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
> > and your long distance carrier will not want to
> get involve 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.
__________________________________________________
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