This in from Ifish friend Dan E.:

MAJOR SCAM:
> Don't respond to Emails, phone calls, or web pages which tell you to call
an
> "809" Phone Number. This is a very important issue of Scam Busters=21
> because it alerts you to a scam that is spreading *extremely* quickly can
> easily cost you $24100 or more, and is difficult to avoid unless you are
> aware of it. We'd like to thank Paul Bruemmer and Brian Stains for
bringing
> this scam to our attention.
>
> This scam has also been identified by the National Fraud Information
Center
> and is costing victims a lot of money. There are lots of different
> permutations of this scam, but 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 $24100.00.
>
> 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 c charged. Further, whereas many
U.S.
> 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 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 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. Please
> forward this entire message to your friends, family and colleagues to
help
> them become aware of this scam so they don't get ripped off.
>
> Joan L. Mills
> Program Support Center
> Human Resource Services
> System Design and Analysis Division
> 301-504-3136

Consider the source, RT. Knowing Dan E., he's probably running the scam.

RT Thank you for the info.

------------------
dank
Keep The Rivers Clean!

Thanks RT, 1 question though, if I called the number then didn't pay what are they going to do? sue me in a U.S. court. don't think there is much a foreign company could do, especially when its a scam.

Thanks RT, sending it off to everyone I know as we speak.