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 
Information Center and is costing victims a lots of money. 
 
T here 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 
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 charged. Further, 
whereas many U.S. homes that have 900 number blocking to avoid these kinds 
of charges, do not work in preventing 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, 
just disregard the message. 
 
Be wary of e-mail, 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.