809 Area Code Fraud Alert
Some scam artists are using the 809 area code to trick consumers into running up high charges on their phone bills- sometimes thousands of dollars. Be alert when responding to e-mails, phone calls, numeric pages or voice mail messages that tell you to call a phone number with an 809 area code.
The Scam Works Something Like This:
You get an e-mail, voice-mail, or page telling you to call a phone number with an 809, 284, 876 (or some other three-digit) area code to collect a prize, find out about a sick relative, etc. You assume you are making a domestic long distance call as 809, 284, 876 (and other three-digit area codes involved in this scam) appear to be typical three-digit U.S. area codes.
When you dial the 809, 284, 876 (or other three-digit) area code plus the number, however, you’re actually connected to a phone number outside the United States, often in Canada or the Caribbean, and charged international call rates. (In this case, 809 goes to the Dominican Republic, 284 goes to the British Virgin Islands, and 876 goes to Jamaica.)
You don’t find out about the higher international call rates until you receive your phone bill.
To Minimize the Risk of This Happening to You:
- Check all area codes before returning calls.
- If suspicious of area codes you do not recognize, check the telephone directory or call the operator to determine the location of the area code before making your call.
- If you do not typically make international calls, ask your local phone company to block outgoing international calls on your line.
Get Help
If you've been scammed, first contact the carrier, with whom the charge originated, whose name and toll-free telephone number should be printed on the same bill page as the charge in question. Often, the problem can be resolved with a single phone call.
If the carrier with whom the charge originated does not agree to resolve the problem, contact your local phone carrier. They will work with you and the originating carrier to help get fraudulent charges removed from the phone bill.
To file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission about this and/or related phone scams, visit:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/809.html.
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