Do Not DIAL AREA CODE 809 , 284 AND 876

[Randy]

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 didn't 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, 284 AND 876

This one is being distributed all over the US . This
is pretty scary, especially given the way they try to
get you to call.

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. 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 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.

Sandi Van Handel
AT&T Field Service Manager
(920)687-904

Additional information on these area codes can be found below from ATT

Periodically, e-mails warning of a scam involving calls from the 809 area code circulate. Some of the information in the e-mail is true. For example, in the past, there has been some fraud associated with unscrupulous pay-per-call operators in that area code. However, this scam has been less and less of an issue in recent years as a result of work done by AT&T to shut down access to fraudulent pay-per-call operators. In fact, we rarely get actual complaints about this scam.

Furthermore, there is quite a bit of misinformation in the message, especially the highly exaggerated cost of a phone call to numbers in the 809 area code, a legitimate code for the Dominican Republic (not the Virgin Islands, as the e-mail states).

In an effort to protect AT&T consumers from all manner of scams, AT&T offers the following information and tips.

• Return calls to familiar numbers only. As a general rule, return pages and voice mail messages only from numbers that contain familiar or recognizable area codes. You may call your directory assistance or long-distance operator to check on the area code location.

• Carefully read your telephone bill. Make sure you only receive charges from your provider of choice. Ensure you thoroughly understand charges listed on your phone bill, have chosen to do business with all of the listed providers billing for those charges and have authorized additional fees invoiced. If your local service has changed, you will receive a final bill from the former provider and a notice concerning your service disconnection.

• Be suspicious of alleged changes in your service. Some customers have reported receiving calls or mailings from companies claiming that they bill or provide services on behalf of AT&T companies. If you are so contacted, assume it is untrue until you have verified it with an AT&T customer service representative, whose contact number is listed in the front of your phone book or on your AT&T phone bill.
If you believe that you have been scammed,

• Contact the carrier with whom the charge originated, whose name and toll-free telephone number should be printed on the same bill page as the charge in question. Often, the problem can be resolved with a single phone call.

• If the carrier with whom the charge originated does not agree to resolve the problem, contact AT&T. AT&T will work with the customer and the carrier to help get fraudulent charges removed from the phone bill.

• To file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission about this and/or related phone scams, visit:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/809.html.

AT&T site link for above
http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=6045

[Randy]

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has become aware of a long distance phone scam that may lead consumers to inadvertently incur high charges on their phone bills.

The Scam Works Something Like This

• You get an e-mail, voicemail, or page telling you to call a phone number with an “809”, “284”, “876” (or some other three-digit) area code to collect a prize, find out about a sick relative, engage in sex talk, etc.

• You assume you are making a domestic long distance call – as “809”, “284”, “876” (and other three-digit area codes involved in this scam) appear to be typical three-digit U.S. area codes.

• When you dial the “809”, “284”, “876” (or other three-digit) area code plus the number, however, you’re actually connected to a phone number outside the United States, often in Canada or the Caribbean, and charged international call rates. (In this case, “809” goes to the Dominican Republic, “284” goes to the British Virgin Islands, and “876” goes to Jamaica.)

• You don’t find out about the higher international call rates until you receive your phone bill.
To Minimize the Risk of This Happening to You

• Check any area codes before returning calls.
• If you do not otherwise make international calls, ask your local phone company to block outgoing international calls on your line.
Filing a Complaint with the FCC

There is no charge to file an informal complaint with the FCC. Your letter should include your name, address, telephone number or numbers involved with your complaint, a telephone number where you can be reached during the business day, and the name of your long distance carrier. Your complaint letter should also provide as much specific information as possible, such as:

• an explanation of the circumstances that led to your complaint;
• the names of all telephone or other companies involved with your complaint;
• the names and telephone numbers of the telephone company employees that you talked to in an effort to resolve your complaint;
• the dates that you talked with these employees; and
• any other information that would help the FCC to process your complaint.

Your local telephone company also often has records that are essential to the processing of your complaint. You should mail your complaint to:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554.

To file a complaint electronically, go to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html. Consumers can also file by e-mail at fccinfo@fcc.gov.

Filing a Complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FTC is revising its regulations to give consumers more rights when they are victims of international phone call scams. Among other things, the rules will require that calling costs be disclosed to the consumer before his/her call is connected.

Callers may submit their complaints, in writing, to the FTC. The FTC does not typically investigate or resolve specific complaints, but looks for trends or patterns when an issue appears to warrant action. FTC complaints should be mailed to:

Consumer Response Center
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20580.

You may also contact the FTC via phone or email:
FTC toll-free number: 1-877-382-4357
FTC e-mail address for reporting fraud: crc@ftc.gov.

For this or any other consumer publication in an accessible format
(electronic ASCII text, Braille, large print, or audio) please write or call us
at the address or phone number below, or send an e-mail to FCC504@fcc.gov.

To receive information on this and other FCC consumer topics through the Commission's electronic subscriber service, click on http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/contacts/.

This document is for consumer education purposes only and is not intended to affect any proceeding or cases involving this subject matter or related issues.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/809.html