Raulandpinboy
<font color=blue>Table-dancing auctioneer<br><font
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2001
- Messages
- 1,705
The "809" scam has many permutations but they all involve a message to you (either by email, phone or pager) that you immediately call or fax a number in the "809" area code or some other area code. Examples of why you should call or fax the phone number include avoiding litigation, receiving information about someone who has been arrested or died, but mostly about winning a wonderful prize, or getting a job.
The "809" area code is in the Caribbean, yet most people are not aware that they are making an international call when they dial the "809" area code, since you simply dial 1-809-xxx-xxxx to make the call. No international codes are required.
The problem comes from the fact that some phone numbers in the "809" area code are "pay-per-call" numbers (such as 900 numbers in the US) - but there are no legal requirements that callers be informed that they are being charged extra in the Caribbean. When you return one of these "pay-per-call" 809 calls, the scamsters try to keep you on the phone as long as possible, and you may be charged very high rates for the call, reportedly up to $25 per minute.
It is difficult to get credit for these charges if you do get scammed since you did make the call, and resolving the problem involves getting credit from international phone companies.
Since there are now many area codes in the Caribbean, this scam is no longer confined to just the 809 area code. Area codes have changed in many of the countries. Now, 809 is just for the Dominican Republic. For example, 242 is the area code for the Bahamas, 284 is for the British Virgin Islands, and 787 is for Puerto Rico. You can find all the new area codes at: http://www.lincmad.com/caribbean.html
Or you can go to AT&T and look up any area code in the world: http://www.att.com/traveler/tools/codes.html#a
You can also find area code maps of various regions in .pdf format at the North American Numbering Plan Administration site: http://www.nanpa.com/number_resource_info/area_code_maps.html
We have not been able to verify if charges are still as high as $25 per minute. It may be that the price today is significantly lower.
AT&T did put out a bulletin that this scam continues to thrive, but we have not been able to locate this bulletin.
We'd also heard there are now new related scams using the prefixes 500 and 700. These prefixes can be used for adult entertainment and for pay per call numbers. Some of these numbers are in the country Vanuatu. Mr. Chavez confirmed this.
You can learn more about this scam at
Better Business Bureau:
http://www.bbb.org/alerts/areacode.html
National Fraud Information Center:
http://www.fraud.org/news/subject/900ind.htm
The "809" area code is in the Caribbean, yet most people are not aware that they are making an international call when they dial the "809" area code, since you simply dial 1-809-xxx-xxxx to make the call. No international codes are required.
The problem comes from the fact that some phone numbers in the "809" area code are "pay-per-call" numbers (such as 900 numbers in the US) - but there are no legal requirements that callers be informed that they are being charged extra in the Caribbean. When you return one of these "pay-per-call" 809 calls, the scamsters try to keep you on the phone as long as possible, and you may be charged very high rates for the call, reportedly up to $25 per minute.
It is difficult to get credit for these charges if you do get scammed since you did make the call, and resolving the problem involves getting credit from international phone companies.
Since there are now many area codes in the Caribbean, this scam is no longer confined to just the 809 area code. Area codes have changed in many of the countries. Now, 809 is just for the Dominican Republic. For example, 242 is the area code for the Bahamas, 284 is for the British Virgin Islands, and 787 is for Puerto Rico. You can find all the new area codes at: http://www.lincmad.com/caribbean.html
Or you can go to AT&T and look up any area code in the world: http://www.att.com/traveler/tools/codes.html#a
You can also find area code maps of various regions in .pdf format at the North American Numbering Plan Administration site: http://www.nanpa.com/number_resource_info/area_code_maps.html
We have not been able to verify if charges are still as high as $25 per minute. It may be that the price today is significantly lower.
AT&T did put out a bulletin that this scam continues to thrive, but we have not been able to locate this bulletin.
We'd also heard there are now new related scams using the prefixes 500 and 700. These prefixes can be used for adult entertainment and for pay per call numbers. Some of these numbers are in the country Vanuatu. Mr. Chavez confirmed this.
You can learn more about this scam at
Better Business Bureau:
http://www.bbb.org/alerts/areacode.html
National Fraud Information Center:
http://www.fraud.org/news/subject/900ind.htm
