[CorkyMax]

Another member from this forum sent me this email a couple months ago:
Subject: Fwd: Area Code/Phone Scam
Passing along.....
809 Area Code
We actually received a call last week from the
809area code. 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 n umber beginning with 809. We didn't
respond..

Then this week, we received the following e-mail:

Do Not 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 taken ill or has been involved in a terrible accident even to notify you someone has died. You are told to call the 809number right away. Since there are so many new area codes these days, people unknowingly return these calls.


If you call from the U.S. , 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.
WHY IT WORKS:

The 809 area code is located in theDominican Republic .
The charges afterward can become a real nightmare. That's because you did actually make the call. If you complain, both your local phone company and your lo n g 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.

AT&T VERIFIES IT'S TRUE:
AT&T | 809 Area Code and Other Long Distance Phone Scams

SNOPES VERIFIES IT'S TRUE:
http://www..snopescom/fraud/telephone/809.asp
This was sent to me, so I am passing it on....

[rayter]

Thanks for sharing this. I usually get scam emails from Nigera and other African countries. Kinda funny, but irritating.

[Lara's mom]

Me too. I delete them...

[DoggieVogue]

How rotten! thanks for posting this heads up. I think there was an 809 area code on the caller id recently, but no message - I gotta let my boyfriend read this.

[LeloPaul]

Just looked at snopes and this information is not accurate. And since I'm a newbie, I can't post links yet

This scam is not as written above, and not nearly that much money. And not all phone numbers in 809 do this. Just google it for the real story.