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[Fwd: Fwd: DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809]

Okay Guys:
  I swore I'd never forward another Virus message and I haven't.  BUT
this is different and is a scam that will cost US people (Japan and
other outside US members ignore) thousands of dollars.
  If I get chewed out on this, I'll NEVER forward ANY warning about
anything!!!
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  • Subject: DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809
  • From: Jkreeb@xxxxxxxx
  • Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2001 16:12:05 EST
  • Full-name: Jkreeb
: 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 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 $24100 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. 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 $24100.00.

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, don't
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 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
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