Please ready carefully!







ABOUT AREA CODE

We actually received a call last week from the 809 area co de. The
woman
said "Hey, this is Karen. Sorry I missed you--get back to us quickly. I
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.
They get you to call by telling you that it is information about a
family
member who has been ill or to tell you someone has-been arrested, died,
or
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 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

Sandi Van Handel
AT&T Field Service Manager
(920)687-904
Additional information on these area codes can be found from ATT at:
http://www.consumer.att.com/consumertips/areacode.html









Diane Richard

Public Information Officer

Office of the Chief

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police

1203 Western Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA&nb sp; 15233

412-323-7814 412-323-7820 Fax

diane.richard@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

Close, but not quite accurate.

http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/809.asp