Never Dial the Following Area Codes!!!

[frostbitetwice]

Area Codes Very important info

This is true as per Snoops.com - snopes.com: 809 Area Code Scam

ABOUT AREA CODE S

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:

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

This one is being distributed all over the US This is pretty scary, especially given the way they try to get you to call.
Be sure you read this and pass it on.
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 w on 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 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
Additional information on these area codes can be found from ATT at:
http://www.consumer.att.com/consumertips/areacode.html

[lenjack]

I'm not buying this. Sounds like an urban legend.

[Steve R Jones]

Read all about it...It's only a small scam:

snopes.com: 809 Area Code Scam

Origins: This scam is real, but four important pieces of information to keep in mind are:
• Not every phone number in the 809 area code is part of this scam, and calling such a number will not necessarily result in exorbitantly large charges on your phone bill. Most 809 numbers are ordinary, legitimate phone numbers.
• This scam has been used with other area codes besides 809.
• The amounts of money involved have been greatly exaggerated as this warning has circulated on the Internet over the past several years.
• This scam is not very common; the average U.S. resident is unlikely to ever encounter it.

[nomaxim]

It's also been around a while, snopes says since 2000.

I seem to recall a notice at work about this in 2001-2 and the amount involved was only in the hundreds of dollars then.

[frostbitetwice]

Originally Posted by lenjack

I'm not buying this. Sounds like an urban legend.

Yes, you are correnct, Lenjack..I was duped or as I would say proped (short for propaganda) after checking with the following website. I did link to AT &T web site and it confirmed this, however, there was no mention of the cost of these calls..

TruthOrFiction.com-Is that forwarded email Truth or Fiction? Research into stories, scams, hoaxes, myths, and urban legends on the Internet