Watch out for the following area code
>> Friday, June 4, 2010
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. Y
ou 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
WHY IT WORKS:
The 809 area code is located in the Caribbean Islands...
The charges afterward can become a real nightmare 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 will end up dealing with a foreign company that argues they have done nothing wrong.
Please refer this message to your friends, family and colleagues to help them become aware of this scam.
AT&T VERIFIES IT'S TRUE.
SNOPES VERIFIES IT'S TRUE:
13 comments:
Great information. I will be sure to tweet this and let others know.
This is terrible, isn't it?
This is very good information to know, THANK YOU, so much!
Thanks Souziep for visiting.
Snopes verifies it's only PARTIALLY true:
http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/809.asp
Since this message has been out for awhile, a lot of people might know the way to prevent for such a scam by now.
It was so true that some people have fallen into this trap obviously.
Read over hundreds of true comments at the following site:
http://www.ucan.org/blog/money_privacy/consumer_scam/876_a_jamaican_international_rate_charge_scam#comment-26723
You will be freaked out.
I suggest reading the snopes article -enter 809 area code in the search. What's written above as a little grain of truth fluffed up into a huge mountain of exaggeration and distortion. I have noticed a trend lately of adding "snopes confirms it" or some variation of that. I guess once people got to where they checked things out there, the BS mongers decided to try to stop it by saying it was already checked out. Any more, that phrase is a red flag to look it up for yourself and pay attention to how old the article is. Many hoaxes from ages ago are resurfacing so they are indeed on Snopes, but some are 10 years old or more and are not valid any more but still archived. Don't let others do your thinking for you!
I suggest that you take time to read the comments from the true people that experienced the true pain from loosing their money over these scams.
Thanks for your comment anyway.
I suggest that you take time to read over hundreds of true comments at the following site.
These people are the true people, true experiences, true loss for the scam
http://www.ucan.org/blog/money_privacy/consumer_scam/876_a_jamaican_international_rate_charge_scam#comment-26723
@Affection- I looked at the comments. Lots of people were annoyed but I didn't see any that lost money. How do you know they are true anyway? This call doesn't mysteriously tap into your bank accounts or credit cards and take the money without your permission unless you have some kind of automatic bill payment. That would be dumber than falling for this scam! If anybody did lose money, too bad for them because they aren't very bright or worldly-wise. Mathematically, if 500 people had listed their complaints, that would still be only .0001% of the US population who encountered it. The number of people who lost money would be even less, maybe .000001%! Sorry my friend, I stand by what I said with the article being overblown. Yes, there is a scam, but it's a poorly conceived one that anyone with a drop of common sense can see through. Nut, it isn't wide spread and a danger to everyone that there is no escape from or relief if someone gets caught up in it. But, back to the piece, from the fact that there are actual normal people within those area codes while the article implies otherwise to the opinion posing as fact that the phone company won't help with insane charges show just how flaky the story is. Every phone company, at least here in the US, WILL remove any such charges that were incurred via some scam or con. I have a friend whose 13 year old son found out about the pay per minute sex lines and racked up over $3,000 in calls in a single month when along with his friends, they used them to amuse themselves after school. He had no problem getting the charges removed. I saw the bill and how pissed he was at the kid! Even my comment about the age of the scam bears me out. It originated over 10 years ago and on Snopes was last updated in 2008! Even the amount of money said to be scammed is way over blown. Actual amounts run from $25 to $100. The $2000+ per minute charges are lies, no more no less. Again, I suggest people read the Snopes article and take neither my word, your word, or the author's word. If you are passionate about believing in it and want to shudder every time the phone rings, that's fine. People believe in all sorts of questionable things. For me, the real world can be scary enough without adding this nonsense to it. And, BTW- the word in losing for to lose. Loosing is a bad verb meaning setting free or releasing. No insult intended- a lot of people make this mistake but it's one of those that can cause a rolling of the eyes at an otherwise intelligent bit of writing.
Hey! First word in this sentence -Nut, it isn't wide spread and a danger to everyone that there is no escape from or relief if someone gets caught up in it.- should have been "But". I didn't want you to think I was calling you a "nut". :-)
I read the comment at Snopes and nowhere in their comment denied the real scam written in the blog that was not true. They suggested since the area code 876 in general also included many more of other ligit numbers from other companies and therefore should take in consideration. Again, I suggest that the people who read this blog take a look at the complaints against this scam and be prepared for it!
http://www.ucan.org/blog/money_privacy/consumer_scam/876_a_jamaican_international_rate_charge_scam#comment-26723
Post a Comment