Important Phone Scam. Please Read - GoFuckYourself.com

bryany · 11-20-2002, 04:20 PM

I got this email today. Dont know if its true or not, but ist coming from someone at AT&T so who knows.

"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 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 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/ "

tree · 11-20-2002, 04:22 PM

hmmmm wonder if theres an 809 dialer yet

NetRodent · 11-20-2002, 04:36 PM

I wonder how often they collect $24,000. A lot of people don't have that kind of cash and those that do are probably smart enough not to pay it.

salsbury · 11-20-2002, 04:36 PM

the number keeps growing. here's the "official" source:

http://www.scambusters.org/809Scam.html

Vox · 11-20-2002, 04:42 PM

Dammit! I wish they stopped exposing this, how's a guy suppose to make money? At least they didn't say anything about the 473 area code.

Rictor · 11-20-2002, 05:02 PM

It's not true.

BSleazy · 11-20-2002, 06:17 PM

Nobody would ever pay that so who cares. I doubt anyone would even pay $200 if they didn't know what it was.

UnseenWorld · 11-20-2002, 07:40 PM

Before you pass along rumors like this, you should at least TRY to check them out. I had no trouble finding this using Google:

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/area809.htm

Additionally, I'd like to see them try to collect one of those huge phone bills.

bryany · 11-20-2002, 08:53 PM

I never was trying to start a rumor, thats what I said in the begining, "I dont know if its real or not"

playa · 11-20-2002, 11:23 PM

geez you must be a newbie to the internet,

funny how old these hoax are and it still amazes me
that it can still move people today

11-20-2002, 04:20 PM	#1
bryany Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: AZ Posts: 2,037	Important Phone Scam. Please Read I got this email today. Dont know if its true or not, but ist coming from someone at AT&T so who knows. "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 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 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/ " __________________ ya ya, I'll fill this in later...

11-20-2002, 04:36 PM	#3
NetRodent Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: In the walls of your house. Posts: 3,985	I wonder how often they collect $24,000. A lot of people don't have that kind of cash and those that do are probably smart enough not to pay it. __________________ "Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." --H.L. Mencken

11-20-2002, 04:36 PM	#4
salsbury Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,070	the number keeps growing. here's the "official" source: http://www.scambusters.org/809Scam.html __________________

11-20-2002, 04:42 PM	#5
Vox Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Montreal Posts: 2,710	Dammit! I wish they stopped exposing this, how's a guy suppose to make money? At least they didn't say anything about the 473 area code. __________________ Social profile assassination for hire

11-20-2002, 07:40 PM	#8
UnseenWorld Confirmed User Join Date: May 2001 Location: Portland, OR, USA Posts: 5,279	Before you pass along rumors like this, you should at least TRY to check them out. I had no trouble finding this using Google: http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/area809.htm Additionally, I'd like to see them try to collect one of those huge phone bills. __________________ SIG TOO BIG! Maximum 120x60 button and no more than 3 text lines of DEFAULT SIZE and COLOR. Unless your sig is for a GFY top banner sponsor, then you may use a 624x80 instead of a 120x60.

11-20-2002, 04:22 PM	#2
tree Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,601	hmmmm wonder if theres an 809 dialer yet

11-20-2002, 05:02 PM	#6
Rictor Old Timer Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 12,208	It's not true.

11-20-2002, 06:17 PM	#7
BSleazy Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: USA Posts: 6,721	Nobody would ever pay that so who cares. I doubt anyone would even pay $200 if they didn't know what it was.

11-20-2002, 08:53 PM	#9
bryany Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: AZ Posts: 2,037	I never was trying to start a rumor, thats what I said in the begining, "I dont know if its real or not" __________________ ya ya, I'll fill this in later...

11-20-2002, 11:23 PM	#10
playa Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: atlanta, GA Posts: 6,432	geez you must be a newbie to the internet, funny how old these hoax are and it still amazes me that it can still move people today