High Importance ~ Cellular Phone Scams ~ How They Work and What Area Codes to Watch Out For

High Importance

Today Mr. Rosemary Lane sent me a copy of an email which was just distributed to the employees of the company of which he is employed. He sent it to me with a note attached to share this with you my readers, in case any of you are not aware of the current trend to scam you out of money using cellular phones. The company which he works for has a world wide client base, and they have received reports of multiple incidents from employees across the country of long distance phone scams using area codes from other countries. 

___________________Please read the information below___________________

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has recently learned that an old long distance phone scam that leads consumers to incur high charges on their phone bills may now affect wireless consumers. In the past, consumers have been fooled into making expensive international calls by scam artists who leave messages on consumers’ answering machines or their e-mail accounts. The messages urge consumers to call a number with an “809,” “284,” “876,” or some other area code to collect a prize, find out about a sick relative, engage in inappropriate conversation or asks to “please hold for an operator.”

 ALERT! Calls from "809," "649," "284" Area Codes

Wireless consumers are now receiving similar calls from phone numbers with three-digit area codes that appear to be U.S.-based, but are actually associated with international pay-per-call phone numbers. While wireless companies are working to block suspicious numbers on their networks, some consumers may become victims of this scam.

The Scam Works Like This:

·         Your wireless phone rings once or twice and then disconnects the call. When the number appears in your wireless phone log as a missed call, it appears to be a typical U.S. telephone number starting with a “649” area code; or you get an e-mail or voicemail (on your residential wired telephone) telling you to call a phone number with an “809”, “284”, “876,” or some other three-digit international area code.

·         When you return the call, you assume you are making a U.S.-based long distance call – as “649,” “809,” “284,” “876,” and other area codes involved in this scam, appear to be typical three-digit U.S. area codes.

·         When you dial the three-digit area code plus the number, however, you are connected to a phone number outside the United States, often in Canada or the Caribbean, and are charged expensive international call rates, and may be charged for pay-per-call services as well. (In this case, “649” goes to the Turks and Caicos, “809” goes to the Dominican Republic, “284” goes to the British Virgin Islands, and “876” goes to Jamaica.)

You will not find out about the higher international call rates until you receive your phone bill.

If you believe that you have been the subject of such a scam, please contact your cell provider to have these third-party charges removed.

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I hope if you already knew about this scam you are taking proper steps to avoid being victimized. If not please make sure you know the area code of which a call is coming from so to avoid incurring undue international charges to your cell phone.

And please pass this information along to all!

XO