just passing this along

Quote :

"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: > Do Not DIAL AREA CODE 809, 284,AND 876 > < /SPAN>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 theUS . 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 809number 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. > Unfortunately, when you get your phone bill, you'll of ten be charged more > than $24,100.00. > > WHY IT WORKS: > > The 809 area code is located in the British 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 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. > > AT&T ALSO SAYS TRUE > http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=6045 > > SNOPES SAYS ALSO IT'S TRUE: > > http://www.snopescom/fraud/telephone/809.asp "

9/30/2008 1:00:04 PM

k

9/30/2008 1:00:26 PM

9/30/2008 1:02:19 PM

who answers calls from strange numbers

9/30/2008 1:03:03 PM

Did you even read the article? Yes, it's true, but it's also wildly exaggerated.

9/30/2008 1:03:45 PM

haha i love how newer chain emails have snopes links in them to buy credibility.

9/30/2008 1:05:15 PM

So if it is a foreign country trying to collect your money, what is stopping you from just saying "No thanks I'm not gonna pay"

9/30/2008 1:15:38 PM

i have made phone calls from the BVI's to NC and was not charged remotely close to that, not sure offhand if the same area code or not though, but still from a BVI

9/30/2008 3:38:11 PM

MMMbop tick a ta ba do ba
dubi da ba do ba
tick a ta ba doo
yeah eh yeah
MMMbop tick a ta ba do ba
dubi da ba do ba
tick a ta ba doo
yeah eh yeah

9/30/2008 3:41:44 PM

Quote :

"The 809 scam spam (email forward) Around 1996, an email from Scambusters.org appeared, warning about the 809 and other Caribbean area codes scams, and this (legitimate) warning began to make the rounds of forwarded emails. As usual with such forwards, people have modified it from its original form to make it appear more urgent. Untruths and exaggerations in the resulting hoax email warning now include the following: * The hoax email warns against ever dialing this area code, when in truth, most phone numbers in the 809 area code are not scams, and it's perfectly all right to call someone you know who lives in this area code. The original recommendation was not to return calls from people you don't know who claim that you have won something, or have some trouble with a credit card that needs to be cleared up "immediately", or who claim that a family member of yours has been taken ill, or who offer you a job, etc. * The hoax email asks you to forward it to every friend and family member you know, thus making a chain letter. Scambusters, the originator of the warning email, does not ask people to forward their emails. * The hoax email warns of outrageous sums that might be charged, such as US$2,400 per minute, or sums totalling up to $10,000.00 (the original warning was for charges that were "reportedly as high as $25.00" per minute, and included a surmise that you might be taken for $100.00). * The hoax email claims that the 809 area code is new, though it has been in operation for many years. * The hoax email places the 809 area code in the "British Virgin Islands (the Bahamas)" which is an error copied from the original email. "

9/30/2008 3:45:35 PM

DON'T COME IN HERE WITH YOUR FACTUAL INFORMATION.

9/30/2008 3:46:54 PM

really fucking [old]

9/30/2008 4:14:26 PM

My wife's grandfather just called her because he got a phone bill for a couple hundred dollars. He said he got a bunch of calls from (336)441-3046 and (876)867-1349 and nobody was ever at the other end. He told his phone company, Bellsouth (AT&T), and they told him to prove he didn't call the numbers and they'd remove the charges.

From the AT&T link by OP:

Quote :

"809 Area Code Scam Be cautious when responding to e-mails or phone calls from the 809, 284 or 876 area code"

EDIT: Got him to pay $5 for an Intelius report (on the 336 #) and it comes back as "International Number"

[Edited on October 3, 2008 at 9:06 AM. Reason : ]

10/3/2008 9:00:40 AM

this scam has been around for a while. but yes, it's widely exagerated.

when i first moved into my new house and activated my landline, I got hit with a barrage of scam type calls from all kinds of weird area codes. Most of the time when I would call them back to tell them to take me off your list, it would either just ring and ring or it would pick up and no one would be there. I found this pretty cool site where you can put in numbers that call you and find out their deal:

http://whocallsme.com/

It was very helpful in helping me get the calls to stop coming.

10/3/2008 9:06:40 AM