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Re: New twist on telephone/Email fraud




> >----------------
> >809 area code a killer app for scam artists
> >
> >Newest alleged scheme hooks victims via urgent e-mail messages
> >
> >By Ryan J. Donmoyer
> >
> >A popular scam that coerces unsuspecting consumers to
> >dial costly international pay-per-call telephone numbers
> >has spread to the Internet, watchdog groups and
> >telecommunications industry officials warn.
> >
> >A company identifying itself as "Global Communications"
> >has been sending unsolicited and tersely worded e-mail
> >messages threatening legal action unless the recipient pays
> >an unspecified overdue account. The message then gives a
> >name and a number in the 809 area code to call for further
> >information.
> >
> >"I am writing to give you a final 24 hours to settle your
> >outstanding account," the message warns.  "If I have not
> >received the settlement in full, I will commence legal
> >proceedings without further delay. If you would like to
> >discuss this matter to avoid court action, call Mike Murray
> >at Global Communications."
> >
> >Callers to the number are led to believe they are talking to
> >a live person, but in fact it is a clever recording that
> >responds to the caller's voice. Among other things, an
> >irate-sounding man with a British accent warns, "Your
> >check will come round or we'll come round to get it." The
> >recording seems designed to keep callers on the line as
> >long as possible, and is reportedly billed at $25 per minute.
> >
> >Although it may look like any other area code in the
> >United States, 809 covers the Caribbean. Calls there are
> >billed at international rates, and in many cases, surcharges
> >for proprietary services -- often phone sex lines or
> >astrology services -- are added.
> >
> >Andy Boisseau, a spokesman for AT&T, says his company
> >has become aware of many scams in recent months which
> >urge recipients to call an 809 number. Some of them
> >include:
> >
> >* Messages left on voice mail or answering machines
> >claiming to have information on a family member who is
> >ill, has died or has been arrested. Another version may
> >leave a message promising recipients a prize.
> >
> >* Unsolicited calls made to pagers sending an 809 number
> >to call. AT&T blocked calls over its network made from a
> >Dominican Republic number that was clearly fraudulent.
> >
> >* Newspapers and Internet advertisements for "mystery
> >shoppers" and overseas job opportunities. Typically, these
> >ads list a domestic number, which refers callers to the 809
> >number. "A recording on that number contains a long-
> >winded message that refers to companies that supposedly
> >offer jobs for shoppers who check on store quality,"
> >according to an AT&T news release on the subject.  "When
> >people call those companies, which are legitimate
> >businesses, there are no jobs to be had.  The companies
> >don't even know they are mentioned on the recording."
> >
> >"We've done a lot to control fraud in this country. That's
> >why you see it going overseas," Boisseau says. While it is
> >impossible to tell just how widespread these scams are, the
> >telecommunications industry estimates that fraud costs
> >about $2 billion a year.
> >
> >Audri Lanford, co-editor of the free Internet e-zine
> >Scambusters (http://www.scambusters.com) said that
> >part of the reason the scams have been so successful is that
> >the United States has recently added a slew of new area
> >codes. The 809 prefix looks more like one of these than
> >typical overseas exchanges, which begin with the dialing
> >code "011."
> >
> >Scam-watchers suggest foreign telephone companies are
> >unlikely to crack down on the scammers, because many of
> >them are taking a cut of the revenues.
> >
> >Kevin Wervach, a spokesman for the Federal
> >Communications Commission (http://www.fcc.gov), says
> >that while federal regulations require U.S. carriers to state
> >up front the cost of a pay-per-call service, there is little the
> >U.S. government can do about foreign companies.
> >
> >"Foreign carriers are not subject to our national rules," he
> >says. "We have no authority to tell a phone company in
> >another country what to do."  The best thing the U.S.
> >government can do is try to educate its consumers.
> >
> >Claudia Bourne Farrell, spokeswoman for the Federal
> >Trade Commission (http://www.ftc.gov) agreed that the
> >U.S. government has little recourse against an off-shore
> >telephone company. It's especially frustrating, she says,
> >because the new Internet version of the scam is
> >particularly luring.
> >
> >"Anybody who has any credit problems at all might think
> >this is about them," she says.
> >
> >Jennifer Adams, spokeswoman for MCI, said the long
> >distance company's consumer protection unit has been
> >recommending caution when calling 809 numbers. "If
> >someone gets a message to call an unfamiliar 809 number,
> >they should not immediately call it," she says.
> >
> >Although the 809 area code is a legitimate one on the
> >North American calling system, unless you are planning a
> >Caribbean vacation, have family, or do business in the
> >region, be wary, she adds.
> >
> >Both AT&T and MCI forgive customers who may have
> >been duped, their representatives say.  However, Boisseau
> >and Adams say that consumers do have to take
> >responsibility for themselves.
> >
> >"This is a totally preventable mistake," Adams says.
> >
> >
> >

--
--bo williams-------bowms@email.unc.edu-------http://www.unc.edu/~bowms/--

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