[StBernard] Costly NEW AREA CODE: READ AND PASS ALONG

[Westley Annis]

>>Costly NEW AREA CODE: READ AND PASS ALONG

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>New Area Code - PLEASE READ Be sure you read this and pass it on.

>>

>>809 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 did not

>>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 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 VERIFIES IT'S TRUE :http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=6045

>>

>>SNOPES VERIFIES IT'S TRUE:

>>1. snopes.com <http://snopes.com/> : 809 Area Code Scam

>>Are callers lured into placing calls to the 809 area code charged large

>>long-distance fees?

>>  ... 809   Area   Code Scam Scam: Unsuspecting phone customers are gulled

into

>>placing calls to area   codes in the Caribbean that result in hefty

charges....

>>

>>  ...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....

>>

>>  ...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!

because