AREA CODE FRAUD NOTICE FROM AT&T

IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT 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.

Have something im! portant 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:

Subject: DON'T EVER 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

We'd like to thank Verizon for bringing this scam to our attention.

This scam has also been identified by the National Fraud Information Center

and is costing victims a lots of money.

There are lots of different permutations of this scam.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:

You will receive a message on your answering machine or your pager, which

asks you to call a number beginning with area code 809. The reason 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 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 US, 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 often be charged more than $24,100.00.

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, simila r to 900

numbers in the US. Since 809 is not in the US, it is not covered by U.S.

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 U.S. homes that have 900 number blocking to avoid these kinds of

charges, do not work in preventing 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, just disregard

the message.

Be wary of e-mail, 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 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

Sandi Van Handel

AT&T Field Service Manager

(920)687-904

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