809 area code scam

[p8ntblr]

Anyone heard of this? Supposedly it's been around for a while but I just heard of it from an email passed on to me. I checked out spam busters and while they seem to suggest the email over exaggerates the problem, it's basically true. Below is the email and spambuster site





ABOUT AREA CODE

We actually received a call last week from the 809 area code. The woman said "Hey, this is Karen. Sorry I missed you--get back to us quickly. I Have something important to tell you." Then she repeated a phone number beginning with 809 .. " We didn't respond".

Then this week, we received the following e-mail:

Subject: DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809 , 284 AND 876

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.
They get you to call by telling you that it is information about a family member who has been ill or to tell you someone has-been arrested, died, or 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 cal l 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 theBritish Virgin Islands (The Bahamas).
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 i nvolved 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

[crokett]

Snopes confirmed true but 1) most victims are taken for a hundred dollars at most 2) It is not 'sweeping the nation' - most Americans will never encounter it and there are plenty of 809 area code numbers that are valid 3) 809 now belongs to Domincan Republic, not Virgin Islands. I, personally, was in the Dominican for my honeymoon and can tell you 809 is the area code for the Dominican.

[JFD]

809 belongs to Dominican Republic, i can tell you that because... i live here

All my numbers begins with 809, and i'm no spammer...

[LCHIEN]

obviously not every number in the ACs listed is a bad number.
But the point is, don't return a call to a strange number and esp. a strange area code unless you know who the person is or at least they clearly identify themselves and you know them to be legit. They'll use some emotional trigger (like someone died or you won something or there's important news) to get you to try and call back.

I never return calls to strange people unless they clearly identify themselves and their business. If its important, then they'll call back. There are some scams that play to your sense of greed - they say you've won (insert item here) please call such-and-such number and when you do, you either get charged for an expensive call or they'll get you on the line and try to get you to give some credit card no. info under some pretense (verification, need to pay fee, etc.)
If its too good to be true, and you haven't entered such contest, don't call back, if they're legit, then they'll call you again and surely won't ask for your CC no.