IJMC - Honest Warning

The good folks at Netcom here have even listed a version of this as the 
Message of the Day (MOTD) for a few weeks. I would heed it and pass it 
along, both through the Internet and in real life. Unfortunately, I like 
Virgin Island's rum, so I don't support the idea of just sending in air 
strikes..."fire mission, over. fire mission, out."                 -dave





=========================================

Internet ScamBusters!
     - - exposing what really works and what doesn't - -

    By Audri and Jim Lanford NETrageous Inc.
    Copyright c 1996 NETrageous Inc.

    Issue #8  October 7, 1996

    ******* SPECIAL ALERT *******

    ===========================================================
    SCAM: Don't Respond To Emails, Phone Calls, Or Pages Which
    Tell You To Call An "809" Phone Number
    ===========================================================

    This is a very important issue of Internet ScamBusters! because it
    alerts you to a scam that is: - spreading *extremely* quickly - can
    easily cost you $100 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 - both will receive Internet
    ScamBusters! tee shirts.  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 is how
    it works:

    Permutation #1: Internet Based Phone Scam Via Email You receive an
    email, typically with a subject line of "*ALERT*" or "Unpaid account."
     The message, which is being spammed across the net, says:

     ----------------------------------------------------------
    I am writing to give you a final 24hrs to settle your outstanding
    account. If I have not received the settlement in full, I will
    commence legal proceedings without further delay. If you would like to
    discuss this matter to avoid court action, call Mike Murray at Global
    Communications on +1 809 496 2700.
     ----------------------------------------------------------

    Permutation #2: Phone Or Pager Scam You receive a message on your
    answering machine or your pager which asks you to call a number
    beginning with area code 809.  The reason to 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're 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 $25 per-minute!  Sometimes the person who answers the phone
    will speak broken English and pretend not to understand you.  Other
    times, you'll just 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 $100.00.

    Here's 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 US 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, whereas many US
    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 *very* 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 issue of Internet ScamBusters! to your
    friends, family and colleaguesto help them become aware of this scam
    so they don't get ripped off.