A relative of mine emailed me this:
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 important to tell you." Then she repeated a phone
> > > number beginning with 809.
> > > We didn't respond. Then this week, we received the following email:
> > >
> > >
> > > 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 to all your friends and family so they don't get
> > > scammed! MAJOR SCAM: Don't respond to Emails, phone calls, or web
>pages
> > >
> > > which tell you to call an "809" area Phone Number.
> > >
> > >
> > > This is a very important issue of Scam Busters because it alerts you
>to
> > >
> > > a scam that is spreading *extremely* quickly, can easily cost you
>$2400
> > > or more, and is difficult to avoid unless you are aware of it. 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,
> > > similar 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,
> > > where as 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 email, 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
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 important to tell you." Then she repeated a phone
> > > number beginning with 809.
> > > We didn't respond. Then this week, we received the following email:
> > >
> > >
> > > 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 to all your friends and family so they don't get
> > > scammed! MAJOR SCAM: Don't respond to Emails, phone calls, or web
>pages
> > >
> > > which tell you to call an "809" area Phone Number.
> > >
> > >
> > > This is a very important issue of Scam Busters because it alerts you
>to
> > >
> > > a scam that is spreading *extremely* quickly, can easily cost you
>$2400
> > > or more, and is difficult to avoid unless you are aware of it. 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,
> > > similar 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,
> > > where as 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 email, 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