Re: GeeK: 809 Area code scam

Date view Thread view Subject view Author view

From: Jeff (jeff@tcnet.org)
Date: Fri Nov 17 2000 - 22:42:38 PST


On Fri, 17 Nov 2000, Jim Whitehead wrote:

> Bottom line: don't call (809) area code numbers, unless you know the person
> on the other end of the line. Failure to do so may cost you over $2k a
> minute.
>
> for more info:
>
> http://cats-nts.ucsc.edu/809scam.html
>

And not just 809. Looks like the list of "beware" area codes could include
242, 246, 246, 268, 284, 345, 441, 664, 758, 787, 868, 869, and 876.

"Danger" here is that these are supposedly all area codes that are in fact
international calls, yet do not require the traditional 011 prefix to dial
an international call.

Hrm. Canada is an international call, and doesn't require 011...

Here are pages from various telco's on the issue:
http://www.att.com/fraud/home.html
http://www.worldcom.com/about_the_company/consumers_watch/fraud.phtml
http://www.ameritech.com/corporate/fraud/social_engineering.html

And some handy tools for checking the area code before you dial:
http://www.nanpa.com/area_codes/geographic_number.html
http://directory.google.com/Top/Reference/Directories/Address_and_Phone_Numbers/Area_Codes/

Additional information on the NANP/Area Codes in general:
http://www.nanpa.com/number_resource_info/index.html
http://www.nanpa.com/area_codes/index.html

Keep an eye on those fingers...

-jeff

-- 
Jeff Godin
Network Specialist
Traverse Area District Library / Traverse Community Network
jeff@tcnet.org


Date view Thread view Subject view Author view

This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Nov 17 2000 - 22:57:16 PST