Date:         Thu, 17 Oct 1996 13:46:52 -0400 (EDT)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         William Gau <wmgau@acpub.duke.edu>
Subject:      (Fwd) Scam Alert 

To all:

Beware,

I got burned by this, though I hate to admit it.  It's a funny message
you get, but an expensive one.  

I'm still waiting for my phone bill.

William


>>  
>> >>******* SPECIAL ALERT *******
>> >>
>> >>SCAM: Don't Respond To Emails, Phone Calls, Or Pages Which
>> >>Tell You To Call An "809" Phone Number
>> >>
>> >>This is a very important issue of Internet ScamBusters! because it
>> >>alerts you to a scam that is: - spreading *extremely* quickly - can
>> >>easily cost you $100 or more, and - is difficult to avoid unless you
>> >>are aware of it. We'd like to thank Paul Bruemmer and Brian Stains
>> >>for bringing this scam to our attention - both will receive Internet
>> >>ScamBusters! tee shirts.  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 is
>> >>how it works:
>> >>
>> >>Permutation #1: Internet Based Phone Scam Via Email You receive an
>> >>email, typically with a subject line of "*ALERT*" or "Unpaid
>> >>account."  The message, which is being spanned across the net, says:
>> >>
>> >>----------------------------------------------------------
>> >>I am writing to give you a final 24hrs to settle your outstanding
>> >>account. If I have not received the settlement in full, I will
>> >>commence legal proceedings without further delay. If you would like
>> >>to discuss this matter to avoid court action, call Mike Murray at
>> >>Global Communications on +1 809 496 2700.
>> >>----------------------------------------------------------
>> >>
>> >>Permutation #2: Phone Or Pager Scam You receive a message on your
>> >>answering machine or your pager which asks you to call a number
>> >>beginning with area code 809.  The reason to you're asked to call
>> >>varies: it can be  to receive information about a family member who
>> >>has been ill, to tell you someone has been arrested, died, to let you
>> >>know you have won a wonderful prize, etc.  In each case, you're 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 US, you will apparently be
>> >>charged $25 per-minute!  Sometimes the person who answers the phone
>> >>will speak broken English and pretend not to understand you.  Other
>> >>times, you'll just 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 $100.00.
>> >>
>> >>Here's why it works:  The 809 area code 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 US.  Since 809
>> >>is not in the US, it is not covered by US 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. Further, whereas many
>> >>US 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,
>> >>investigate further and/or disregard the message.  Be *very* wary of
>> >>email or calls asking you to call an 809 area code number.
>> >>
>> >>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
>> >>our 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 issue of Internet ScamBusters! to your
>> >>friends, family and colleaguesto help them become aware of this scam
>> >>so they don't get ripped off.
>> >>
>> >>**********************************************************************
>Rebecca Gau
>rebecca@acpub.duke.edu
>
>