Fool Me Twice...
There are times that I simply marvel at the level of paranoia that consumes those in the online community. It seems that for every person who is alarmingly naive, trusting every piece of information that comes their way as "the Gospel truth" (ergo, falling for every scam to come down the Information Highway), there are two or three more people whose scrutinizing paranoia makes them equally naive on the other end of the spectrum. Basically, the two groups are one in the same: the very people who would fall for an if-it's-too-good-to-be-true--it-probably-is scam, are the same people who would believe every word of an I-swear-this-happened-to-me--don't-let-it-happen-to-you!! email.
I present for your inspection: The latest "Buyer Beware!" email.
This, of course, is presented in chain email form, having been Re:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd: through hundreds of thousands of contact lists until it reaches its destination in your Inbox. Here it is, uncut for your pleasure (stage directions are in italics):
IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT AREA CODE
We actually received a call last week from the 809 area code. [*gasp* Oh no! Whatever did you do?] 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 number beginning with 809 . "We didn't respond". [Are you sure that was wise? Think of the drama!!]
Then this week, we received the following e-mail:
Subject: DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809 , 284 AND 876 [Phew!! You really dodged a bullet there...]
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US BY AT&T. DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809! [You mean AT&T ITSELF told you this?!?! What luck!!! I wonder what AT&T sounds like...]
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. [You bet I will!!] They get you to call by telling you that it is information about a family member who has been ill or to tell you someone has-been arrested, died, or to let you know you have won a wonderful prize, etc. [Hmm...] In each case, you are told to call the 809 number right away. Since there are so many new area codes these days, people unknowingly return these calls. [*gasp a second time!!* That could have been me!!]
If you call from the US , you will apparently be charged $2425 per-minute. [PER MINUTE!!! *gasp yet again!!*]
Or, you'll get a long recorded message. [Naturally, one must listen until the very end; it would be rude to just hang up...] 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 $24,100.00. [Are you serious?!?! That's more than I made last week!! Do you think that is before or after taxes...?]
WHY IT WORKS: [I am a-twitter with interest. Tell me, TELL ME!!!]
The 809 area code is located in the British Virgin Islands (The Bahamas). *gasp a fourth time!!*
The charges afterwards can become a real nightmare. That's because you did actually make the call. [*checks phone* Oh, no... I did!!] If you complain, both your 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. [And me out of $24,000... no, $24000 per minute... no, per second!!That's almost eleventy-billion dollars!!!]
Please forward this entire message to your friends, family and colleagues to help them become aware of this scam. [I will, AT&T! I WILL!!! I really dodged a bullet on this one]
Sandi Van Handel
AT&T Field Service Manager
(920) 687-904 [Thank you, Sandi Van Handel. I'm going to call you first thing in the morning!!]
Tell you what... I'll let you all simmer with that information for a minute. Get back to me and let me know what's wrong with this picture, and why 500 people before me both received this email and passed it on. The insanity stops here.
Stupid people should not be allowed to breed, drive, or own computers.
I present for your inspection: The latest "Buyer Beware!" email.
This, of course, is presented in chain email form, having been Re:Fwd:Fwd:Fwd: through hundreds of thousands of contact lists until it reaches its destination in your Inbox. Here it is, uncut for your pleasure (stage directions are in italics):
IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT AREA CODE
We actually received a call last week from the 809 area code. [*gasp* Oh no! Whatever did you do?] 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 number beginning with 809 . "We didn't respond". [Are you sure that was wise? Think of the drama!!]
Then this week, we received the following e-mail:
Subject: DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809 , 284 AND 876 [Phew!! You really dodged a bullet there...]
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US BY AT&T. DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809! [You mean AT&T ITSELF told you this?!?! What luck!!! I wonder what AT&T sounds like...]
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. [You bet I will!!] They get you to call by telling you that it is information about a family member who has been ill or to tell you someone has-been arrested, died, or to let you know you have won a wonderful prize, etc. [Hmm...] In each case, you are told to call the 809 number right away. Since there are so many new area codes these days, people unknowingly return these calls. [*gasp a second time!!* That could have been me!!]
If you call from the US , you will apparently be charged $2425 per-minute. [PER MINUTE!!! *gasp yet again!!*]
Or, you'll get a long recorded message. [Naturally, one must listen until the very end; it would be rude to just hang up...] 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 $24,100.00. [Are you serious?!?! That's more than I made last week!! Do you think that is before or after taxes...?]
WHY IT WORKS: [I am a-twitter with interest. Tell me, TELL ME!!!]
The 809 area code is located in the British Virgin Islands (The Bahamas). *gasp a fourth time!!*
The charges afterwards can become a real nightmare. That's because you did actually make the call. [*checks phone* Oh, no... I did!!] If you complain, both your 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. [And me out of $24,000... no, $24000 per minute... no, per second!!That's almost eleventy-billion dollars!!!]
Please forward this entire message to your friends, family and colleagues to help them become aware of this scam. [I will, AT&T! I WILL!!! I really dodged a bullet on this one]
Sandi Van Handel
AT&T Field Service Manager
(920) 687-904 [Thank you, Sandi Van Handel. I'm going to call you first thing in the morning!!]
Tell you what... I'll let you all simmer with that information for a minute. Get back to me and let me know what's wrong with this picture, and why 500 people before me both received this email and passed it on. The insanity stops here.
Stupid people should not be allowed to breed, drive, or own computers.