(Fwd) SCAM Alert

[jbromley@mail.enterprise.net]

------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date:          Wed, 13 Nov 1996 16:33:48 +0000
To:            corrado-l@teleport.com
From:          "Dr. Thomas J. Cosse" <cosse@urvax.urich.edu>
Subject:       SCAM Alert
Reply-to:      "Dr. Thomas J. Cosse" <cosse@urvax.urich.edu>

I received the following alert from my computer center today.  You should
take heed.

>
>	SCAM: Don't Respond To E-mails, 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. There are lots of different permutations of this
>scam, but here is how it works: 
>
>	Permutation #1: Internet Based Phone Scam Via E-mail - You receive an
>E-mail, 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 24 hours 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 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 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 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.
>
>


Jeremy R. Bromley       --- Events Manager, Corrado Club of Great Britain
jbromley@enterprise.net

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