809 Phone Scam (Mostly True)

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This letter is basically true and was based on a 1996 ScamBusters article. For info on what parts are true and which parts aren’t, see: Scambusters.org, Urban Legends at About.com, or Snopes.com
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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. We’d like to thank Paul Bruemmer and Brian Stains 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’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 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 so they don’t get ripped off.