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Phone Numbers You Should Never Call

By Misty | March 7, 2008

j0402520.jpgAs a general rule, most people know that they should never send money to a person or company that claims to be part of a sweepstakes or lottery. What many people don’t realize, however, is this can be just the INITIAL PART of the overall scheme to con consumers out of cash.

Consumers in our tri-state area have recently been contacted over the phone by persons claiming to be part of a “Winning Club.” The scam artists claim that the consumer has won a sweepstakes or lottery. Sometimes the scammer asks for money to be sent to him or her in order to pay for processing fees or taxes. Most consumers know better than to send money, however, what they don’t realize is they can be scammed out of money if they return the scammer’s phone call!

One such phone number that is circulating in our area is 876-807-8719. The number is deceiving because it looks similar to a toll free number, when, in fact, it is a Jamaican phone number that charges the caller enormous fees!

The Federal Communications Commission offers the following advice on these phone scams:

The Scam Works Something Like This

• You get an e-mail, voicemail, or page telling you to call a phone number with an “809”, “284”, “876” (or some other three-digit) area code to collect a prize, find out about a sick relative, engage in sex talk, etc.
• You assume you are making a domestic long distance call – as “809”, “284”, “876” (and other three-digit area codes involved in this scam) appear to be typical three-digit U.S. area codes.
• When you dial the “809”, “284”, “876” (or other three-digit) area code plus the number, however, you’re actually connected to a phone number outside the United States, often in Canada or the Caribbean, and charged international call rates. (In this case, “809” goes to the Dominican Republic, “284” goes to the British Virgin Islands, and “876” goes to Jamaica.)
• You don’t find out about the higher international call rates until you receive your phone bill.

Minimize the Risk of This Happening to You

• Check any area codes before returning calls.
• If you do not otherwise make international calls, ask your local phone company to block outgoing international calls on your line.

Filing a Complaint with the FCC

If you are billed for a call you made as a result of this scam, first try to resolve the matter with your telephone company. If you are unable to resolve it directly, you can file a complaint with the FCC. There is no charge for filing a complaint. You can file your complaint using the on-line complaint Form 2000B found on the FCC Web site at www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html. You can also file your complaint with the FCC’s Consumer Center by e-mailing fccinfo@fcc.gov; calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to:

Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554

What to Include in Your Complaint

The best way to provide all the information the FCC needs to process your complaint is to complete fully the on-line complaint Form 2000B. If you do not use the on-line complaint Form 2000B, your complaint, at a minimum, should indicate:

• your name, address, e-mail address, and phone number where you can be reached;
• the telephone and account numbers that are the subject of your complaint;
• the name and phone numbers of any companies involved with your complaint;
• the amount of any disputed charges, whether you paid them, whether you received a refund or adjustment to your bill, the amount of any adjustment or refund you have received, an explanation if the disputed charges are related to services in addition to residence or business telephone services; and
• the details of your complaint and any additional relevant information.

Filing a Complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

If you feel that you are a victim of an international phone scam, you can file a complaint with the FTC online at https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01. You can also submit a complaint by calling the FTC toll-free at 1-877-382-4357 (voice) or 1-866-653-4261 (TTY), or writing to:
Federal Trade Commission
CRC-240
600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20580

For More Information

For information about other telecommunications issues, visit the FCC’s Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Web site at www.fcc.gov/cgb, or contact the FCC’s Consumer Center using the information provided for filing a complaint.

Topics: Websites, Announcement, Scams |

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