Message-ID: <4176228.1075854642148.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2000 03:55:00 -0800 (PST) From: lwbthemarine@bigplanet.com To: daphneco64@bigplanet.com, daphneco64@yahoo.com, jason.bass2@compaq.com, eric.bass@enron.com Subject: Fw: NEVER DIAL AREA CODE 809 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ANSI_X3.4-1968 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-From: "Larry W. Bass" X-To: KATHY BASS , kb , jason , eric preston bass X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \Eric_Bass_Dec2000\Notes Folders\Discussion threads X-Origin: Bass-E X-FileName: ebass.nsf ? ----- Original Message ----- From: kamelang To: Undisclosed-Recipient:; Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 11:40 AM Subject: Fw: NEVER DIAL AREA CODE 809 ? ----- Original Message ----- From: Cherise Hayes To: Tricia DuBois ; Rocky Stevens ; Robyn ; Mike M ; Mike A ; Melissa ; Karyn ; Brent Redus ; Brian South ; Karl ; Julia ; Jennifer Carranza ; Frances ; Dad ; Connie ; Chad Seger ; Bill Roberts Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 11:12 AM Subject: Fw: NEVER 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 ? > > > > >3D21 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 Paul Bruemmer and ? > > Brian ? > > > > >Stains for bringing this scam to our attention. ? > > > > > ? > > > > >This scam has also been identified by the National Fraud ? Information ? > > > > >Center & 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. ? > > > > > ? > > > > >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? $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 & ? > > warned ? > > > > >of charges & 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'trecognize ? > > > > > and/or 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 & your long distance ? > > > > >carrier will not want to get involved & will most likely tell you ? > > that ? > > > > they're ? > > > > >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 & ? > > colleagues ? > > > > > to help them become aware of this scam so they don't get ripped ? off.