NEW AREA CODE 809 PHONE SCAM

Washington, D.C., April 14, 1996 (DLD DIGEST) -- Most people know that 900 numbers are pay-per-call numbers. Did you know that 500 and 700 numbers are also pay-per-call? If you call a number with a 500 or 700 code in the US you're going to get billed for it like any 900 number. Even more scary, 809 is an international long distance call to the Caribbean. Companies are using these numbers as pay-per-calls to get around regulations and 900 block. These companies get rebates from their foreign phone companies for these calls. In this way they get paid, but they don't have to obey US 900# regulations. These regulations require them to warn you of the charge and rate involved, and also to provide a time period during which you may terminate the call without charge. Many people are reporting getting messages on their answering machines telling them that it is urgent they call a number beginning with 809. They then call the number only to hear a long recorded message and they later find a ridiculous sum of money charged to their phone bill. If you get a message on your machine and you don't know the person, don't call if it's not in your area code. If you feel you must call, at least check with the phone company for the applicable rates before you call. Just because you don't know it's a pay-per-call number doesn't mean that you won't get charged for it. Remember, if the call is that important, they'll call back.

COURTESY: NATIONAL FRAUD INFORMATION CENTER