Beware!!! All should read!!!

[23Scadoo]

I got this from a contact at work... Thought I'd share... It's the real deal so look out...

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809 Area Code


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 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 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
InformationCenterand 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 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 UShomes that have 900 number blocking to
avoid these kinds of charges, do not work in preventingcalls 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.