by *Carol ~Bronx Southern Belle D.

Member since:
January 16, 2007

Please read scam warning.

November 28, 2007 10:21 PM EST (Updated: November 28, 2007 10:33 PM EST)

views: 159 | comments: 41

Do not answer or call the area code 809. This is a scam with severe financial consequences for you. You may get this by mail, phone, or email. For more information, please cut and paste this link. The number goes to the Dominican Republic and you are stalled until you run up some astronomical bill. How they pull it off and get you to pay I can't figure, but I have set up a family code to use if there is a real emergency. Use a number or word that only your closest family members know. Tell your children with their cell phones as well. This is a real scam, but they'll catch on and change the number. According to the article, there are real numbers that start with that area code, so I suggest you go to the link and follow their advice. Be suspicious. Beware! My husband has received these calls, and I see it is becoming bigger. Hope this helps someone. Pass it on!

http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/hoaxes/hoaxDetails.asp?HName=Area+Code+809+Hoax

Tags: warning, dominican republic, money, 809, finances, scam

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Comments: 41

Tiffany G. Nov 28, 2007, 10:28pm EST

THANKS!!!

reply to this comment

Todd L Nov 28, 2007, 10:30pm EST

Thanks Carol....Something similar has happened here on Gather to me....Check this out...

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977189138

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The Red Headed Witch of Gather G. Nov 28, 2007, 10:32pm EST

thanks for the warning

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Jaime R. Nov 28, 2007, 10:33pm EST

thanks!

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*Carol ~Bronx Southern Belle D. Nov 28, 2007, 10:35pm EST

I will check it out. I'm also sending out a mass email. Please delete and forgive me if you read it already. I just hate to see people hurt like this.

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Mary K. Nov 28, 2007, 10:36pm EST

Thanks for the warning!

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Nanci B Nov 28, 2007, 10:39pm EST

I don't understand what the family code is for. Are you in an area where one of your family is l;ikely to make a call from that area code?

This has been going on for a while but new reminders are always good.

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Ann J. Nov 28, 2007, 10:40pm EST

Check it out on Snopes

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

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CyberGwen ! Nov 28, 2007, 10:41pm EST

YIKES!

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Jennifer N. Nov 28, 2007, 10:43pm EST

This has been around for years, but it doesn't hurt to remind everyone about it. We have a list taped to the wall by our phone of these scam area codes and this one is among them.

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Amanda C. Nov 28, 2007, 10:45pm EST

I have caller id, and I DO NOT answer the phone unless it is family or a friend.
I have never heard about this...

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Lori F. Nov 28, 2007, 10:47pm EST

But you pay the phone company for any long distance calls....I dont understand how this works.

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JoAnn C. Nov 28, 2007, 10:51pm EST

thanks for the warning.

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Elaine B. Nov 28, 2007, 10:52pm EST

Thanks for the warning, Carol.

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Elsie Duggan Nov 28, 2007, 10:54pm EST

Thanks for the tip Carol, appreciate that

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JoAnne D. Nov 28, 2007, 11:02pm EST

Two alerts in one day, oh my.

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Nanina Hawk Nov 28, 2007, 11:05pm EST

Thanks for the warning, I haven't heard of this before.

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Jerri H. Nov 28, 2007, 11:44pm EST

I got this in an email today!!

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Christopher K. Nov 28, 2007, 11:55pm EST

thanks for the headsup,scammers should be shot

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vickie f. Nov 29, 2007, 12:03am EST

Thanks for the heads up

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*Carol ~Bronx Southern Belle D. Nov 29, 2007, 12:05am EST

Thanks for the Snopes link. I'll check it out. My husband says that the phone companies in some countries are not public utilities and are not regulated. Some governments are in on the scam.

reply to this comment

*Carol ~Bronx Southern Belle D. Nov 29, 2007, 12:06am EST

The code is my idea for my kids to know that the message is from me or ignore it.

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*Carol ~Bronx Southern Belle D. Nov 29, 2007, 12:20am EST

Lori,
I don't fully understand myself. But what I gather (no pun intended) is you tell your phone company and they sympathize but tell you it's out of their hands. You have to deal with a foreign phone company.

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Robin"Buffy's Stunt Double" D. Nov 29, 2007, 12:29am EST

I'll pass on the info. I got rid of my land line phone last year and added a second cell phone for $35 less per month

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dee b. Nov 29, 2007, 12:34am EST

Thanks for the tip!

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Marilyn M. Nov 29, 2007, 1:48am EST

Someone else posted this about 2 weeks ago. The next day our local news talked about it - because people are in a panic unnecessarily. Snopes said the same thing. Yes, there are some scams, but the phone bills are not what some emails claim (not $2500, maybe $25). I've had legitimate calls from this area code, so I wouldn't block it myself, as some people have mentioned doing. It seems that someone from this area code will tell you to call another number and when you do that, you're calling something that is transferred to a 900 number which charges big bucks by the minute.

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Gorgeous Gabby, a Gather Geeky Gal, and The Giz Nov 29, 2007, 3:01am EST

Okay, just one more we have to watch for. Thanks!

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John B. Nov 29, 2007, 6:55am EST

lol I have been on the net for almost 10 years and some of these warnings are that old I know. The suppriseing thing is that people are still passing them around.

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Doris H. Nov 29, 2007, 8:04am EST

Thanks for the warning

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Michael C. Nov 29, 2007, 9:26am EST

AT&T also has a page dedicated to this at http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=6045

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Michael C. Nov 29, 2007, 9:26am EST

"Be cautious when responding to e-mails or phone calls from the 809, 284 or 876 area codes."
Quoted from the link I supplied above.

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Jane C. Nov 29, 2007, 9:32am EST

Why aren't people being arrested for this kind of thing? There is NO difference between this and someone coming into your home and robbing you.

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Tiffany G. Nov 29, 2007, 9:56am EST

Thanks for the heads up. I would have never known. As if i ever answer any of my calls anyways.

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Tess ~Do they offer Full Body Transplants??~ Nov 29, 2007, 12:35pm EST

It is not as common as it once was, but it is still out there. Thanks for reminding everyone.

Great post! You get a ~10~ from me!
Everyday Life - What is on your Mind? Post it ALL here!

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Sandra T. Nov 29, 2007, 3:01pm EST

I've heard about this before thanks 8)

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Susan *. Nov 29, 2007, 4:54pm EST

thanks for the info Carol...I will pass this on to my son and husband as well! :-D

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J. P. Nov 29, 2007, 5:49pm EST

Thanks!

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Leah Christensen Dec 3, 2007, 2:24am EST

Thanks for the tip!

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Deborah R. Nov 2, 2008, 10:58pm EST

dropping by and leaving a 10.

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