809 area code scam

[mopar73]

My brother sent this to me and I thought it was definetly worth passing on
Scott

Subject: 809 Area Code





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






Please read this...it's true

809 Area Code
Our company 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:

Do Not 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 call from the   U.S. , 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.


WHY IT WORKS:

The 809 area code is located in the   Dominican Republic  .
The charges afterward 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 w ill 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.


AT&T VERIFIES IT'S TRUE :

http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=6045
SNOPES VERIFIES IT'S TRUE:
http://www.snopescom/fraud/telephone/809.asp

[Silver R/T]

thanks for heads up. I never pick up phone if I don't know who's calling me, especially out of state

[ZSmithersCharges]

My brother sent this to me and I thought it was definetly worth passing on
Scott

Subject: 809 Area Code





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






Please read this...it's true

809 Area Code
Our company 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:

Do Not 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 call from the   U.S. , 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.


WHY IT WORKS:

The 809 area code is located in the   Dominican Republic  .
The charges afterward 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 w ill 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.


AT&T VERIFIES IT'S TRUE :

http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=6045
SNOPES VERIFIES IT'S TRUE:
http://www.snopescom/fraud/telephone/809.asp

"If you believe that you have been scammed:

Contact the carrier with whom the charge originated, whose name and toll-free telephone number should be printed on the same bill page as the charge in question. Often, the problem can be resolved with a single phone call.
If the carrier with whom the charge originated does not agree to resolve the problem, contact AT&T. AT&T will work with you and the carrier to help remove fraudulent charges from the phone bill."

It's good to know AT&T will help eradicate the charge.

[MoparManJim]

Thanks bud, I just past it along on a fan club I'm on also. Maybe it will help folks there as well. 

[last426]

This thing is nine years old and not really verified by ATT or Snopes as written.  Another Internet hoax with a tiny bit of truth.  But since it is so old, not likely worth passing to anyone and stirring the pot again.  Kim

[mopar73]

This thing is nine years old and not really verified by ATT or Snopes as written.  Another Internet hoax with a tiny bit of truth.  But since it is so old, not lkikely worth passing to anyone and stirring the pot again.  Kim

Didn't know that.  I only heard about it yesterday, so it was news to me

[Ponch ®]

This thing is nine years old and not really verified by ATT or Snopes as written.  Another Internet hoax with a tiny bit of truth.  But since it is so old, not lkikely worth passing to anyone and stirring the pot again.  Kim

Didn't know that.  I only heard about it yesterday, so it was news to me

It's ok. On a positive note, by posting that warning on this site you just earned $1000 from Bill Gates and some kid just got cured of cancer.

[mopar73]

LMAO

[last426]

This thing is nine years old and not really verified by ATT or Snopes as written.  Another Internet hoax with a tiny bit of truth.  But since it is so old, not lkikely worth passing to anyone and stirring the pot again.  Kim

Didn't know that.  I only heard about it yesterday, so it was news to me

It's ok. On a positive note, by posting that warning on this site you just earned $1000 from Bill Gates and some kid just got cured of cancer.

Ain't it the truth.  And on and on -- I don't know about the cancer cure but I know he or she got a boatload of greeting cards or business cards or whatever.

[John_Kunkel]

Just gotta love it when a bogus e-mail claims that Snopes verifies it when Snopes actually mostly debunks it.

http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/809.asp

[472 R/T SE]

I shook my head when my wife, of all people, sent me the Microsoft one.  Plus it wasn't just me, she sent it to all our family members who are on the 'net.   

Now maybe they'll all believe me.   

[Old Moparz]

When I recently went to Nigeria to pick up a lottery check & look at a matching numbers, Hemi Daytona for $9995, you wouldn't believe all the damn extention cords & surge protectors leading to straw huts from the one utility pole in the village. I also saw a lot of people taking pictures of others holding up those cardboard signs written in black sharpie markers that they use to verify who they are & that their story is legit.


I didn't cash the lottery check yet, I'm kind of busy, & the Daytona was in a locked warehouse so I couldn't see it.