Is this scam real?

[MarkTiarra]

> SUBJECT: 809 area code
>
> 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 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. 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/

[m0rph3us]

you can't dial international numbers without a prefix

ie from canada to call outside Canada/US you have to dial 011+country+areacode+phonenumber.

if you dial 1-809-number it just looks for that area code in Canada/US

[KC]

Hmm..

Area Code 809 IS in the Dominican Republic.

So at least that part of the story is true.

http://nwrdc.fsu.edu:1203/nwqyvar3?ACODE=809

-KC

[KC]

It looks pretty legit...

http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html#four




Placing International Calls Without Realizing It
It?s not always easy to tell if you?re dialing an international telephone number. In most cases, you have to dial "011? to begin a call to a foreign country. But there are locations outside the U.S. whose telephone numbers may look like domestic long-distance calls, but they are actually international calls and international rates apply. For example, 809, 284 and 876 are area codes in the Caribbean.

There are many scams that deceive consumers into calling international numbers. You may see an ad for a service that directs you to call a specific number, or you may receive a page, an e-mail message or an ?urgent" message on your answering machine. All messages direct you to call a number for more information ? almost always an international number.

Defense:
Be cautious about area codes you don?t recognize. Check your telephone directory or call the operator to determine where the area code is before making your call.

Control access to your telephone so unauthorized callers do not use your phone to call these services. A block on calls to "900" services will not stop calls to "011" or "809" numbers. If you?re sure you won?t need to make international calls, call your long-distance carrier and ask them to put an international block on your telephone line.

[hyper]

it is real

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...=area+code+809

[Mojo]

SNopes says it's true, but the dollar amounts being passed around are exaggerated.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/scams/809.htm

[chodadog]

Originally posted by m0rph3us
you can't dial international numbers without a prefix

ie from canada to call outside Canada/US you have to dial 011+country+areacode+phonenumber.

if you dial 1-809-number it just looks for that area code in Canada/US

Maybe that's just for Canada. It's not like that here (Austrlia) and judging from the email, it's not like that in the states either.

Here, it's just countrycode- areacode- phonenumber. No prefix.

[KRL]

A lot of phone sex companies run 809 numbers also because it looks like just a regular long distance within the US.

[EscortBiz]

809/464/473 has been around forver making people rich, but come on if you call a number for phone sex expect to pay.

It's just when people get their phone bill their dick is not hard anymore etc.

If I was a phone billing company I would post every fuckin callers conversation online that makes a chargeback and make sure to have the site appear in every newspaper in the US once a month.

Fuck that its just a matter of time before billing companies will start fighing back and when they will the divorce rate will go from 50% to 90% and the jobless rate will go up to.

You jerked off pay for it fuckface.