SPECIAL ALERT - DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809

This is pretty scary - especially given how they try to
  get you to call. Be sure you read this & pass it on to
  all your friends & family so they don't get scammed!

  SCAM: Don't Respond To Emails, Phone Calls, or
  Web Pages Which Tell You to Call An "809" Phone
  Number. This is a very important issue of Internet
  ScamBusters! because it alerts you to a scam that
  is spreading *extremely* quickly - can easily cost
  you $100 or more, and - is difficult to avoid unless
  you are aware of it. We'd like to thank Paul Bruemmer
  and Brian Stains for bringing this scam to our attention.
  This scam has also been identified by the National
  Fraud Information Center and is costing victims a
  lot of money. There are lots of different permutations
  of this scam, but HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:

  Permutation #1: Internet Based Phone Scam Via Email
  You receive an email, typically with a subject line of
  "*ALERT*" or "Unpaid account."
  The message, which is being spammed across
  the net, says: I am writing to give you a final 24hrs
  to settle your outstanding account. 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
  at 1-809-496-2700.

  Permutation #2: Phone Or Pager Scam
  You receive a message on your answering machine
  or your pager which asks you to call a number
  beginning with area code 809. The reason you're
  asked to call varies: it can be to receive information
  about a family member who has been ill, to tell you
  someone has been arrested, died, to let you know
  you have won a wonderful prize, etc.

  In each case, you're told to call the 809 number
  right away since there are so many new area codes
  these days, people unknowingly return these calls.

  If you call from the US, you will be charged $25 per minute!
  Sometimes the person who answers the phone
  will speak broken English and pretend not to
  understand you. Other times, you'll just 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.
  Unfortunately, when you get your phone bill, you'll
  often be charged more than $100.00.

  HERE'S WHY IT WORKS: The 809 area code is
  located in the British Virgin Islands (the Bahamas).
  The 809 area code can be used as a "pay-per-call"
  number, similar to 900 numbers in the US. Since
  809 is not in the US, it is not covered by US
  regulations of 900 numbers, which require that you
  be notified and warned of charges and rates involved
  when you call a "pay-per-call" number. There is also
  no requirement that the company provide a time
  period during which you may terminate the call
  without being charged. Further, whereas many
  US phones have 900 number blocking to avoid
  these kinds of charges, 900 number blocking will
  not prevent calls to the 809 area code. We recommend
  that no matter how you get the message, if you are
  asked to call a number with an 809 area code that you
  don't recognize, investigate further and/or disregard
  the message.

  Be *very* wary of email or calls asking you to call
  an 809 area code number. It's important to prevent
  becoming a victim of this scam, since trying to fight
  the charges afterwards can become a real nightmare.
  That's because you did actually make the call.
  If you complain, both our local phone company
  and your long 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 issue of Internet
  ScamBusters! to your friends, family and colleagues
  to help them become aware of this scam so
  they don't get ripped off.