Message-ID: <32315959.1075852368994.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2001 10:46:20 -0700 (PDT) From: m..forney@enron.com To: jeffrey.miller@enron.com Subject: RE: Possible Scam Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-From: Forney, John M. X-To: Miller, Jeffrey X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \JFORNEY (Non-Privileged)\Forney, John M.\Sent Items X-Origin: FORNEY-J X-FileName: JFORNEY (Non-Privileged).pst I used to carpool with a guy and his wife from Liberty. He asked me one day: " what if someone called you and told you that you just won a new Towncar - all you had to pay was the $700 in taxes?" I told both of them (laughing) that it was a scam and someone would have to be an idiot to fall for that, since they didnt enter any contest. They both looked down at their feet and said that they sent a check to this outfit. I called them dumbasses again and they called their bank to cancel the check. The jackass scam artist called them back, bitching that they had cancelled their check. My dumbass friend was talked into this transaction AGAIN. He tried to reinstate the check , but the bank's policy prevented him from reactivating this payment. He was going to do this again, but I told his in-laws, friends and everyone else I could to talk to him. He finally saw the light. Just doing my job. Anyway, this guy is a super nice (but dumbass) guy. He works at the Harris county courthouse. His wife ran off with a crack head, left him with the kids, didnt come homefor several weeks and then wanted a divorce. The divorce was in Liberty where this woman, also a dumbass friend from wayback, had worked for the Judge presiding over her case. She got the kids and he pays $2500/month. Life is less fair to dumbasses JMF -----Original Message----- From: Miller, Jeffrey Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2001 12:16 PM To: Gilbert, Gerald Cc: Coulter, Kayne; Day, Smith L.; Forney, John M. Subject: FW: Possible Scam -----Original Message----- From: Giancannoli @ENRON [mailto:IMCEANOTES-Giancannoli+20+3Cdgian00+40yahoo+2Ecom+3E+40ENRON@ENRON.com] Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2001 10:09 AM To: Andy Tosch; Matt Tosch; Gillian Wilson \(Home\); Alan Wing; William Young; Dan Giancola; Michael Giancola; Mike Giancola; David Haddock; Pat Martell; Miller, Jeffrey Subject: Possible Scam Not sure if you knew of this or not... DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809 This one is being distributed all over the U.S. 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, family and business associates so they don't get scammed!! THIS IS A MAJOR SCAM. Don't respond to E-Mails, 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. This can easily cost you $24,100.00 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, voice mail, etc, asking you to call a number beginning with the area code 809. The reasons you are asked to call varies. It can be to receive information about a family member who has been ill, to tell you someone you know 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 U.S., you will apparently be charged $2,425.00 per minute. Or. you will 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 number 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 U.S. Since 809 is not in the U.S., 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. Furthermore, 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 and/orinvestigate further and just disregard the message. Be wary of E-Mail or calls asking you to call an 809 area code num! ber. 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. They 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 all of your friends, family and colleagues to help them become aware of this scam __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! 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