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http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2002/10/02/Consumers/Phonefraud_02 1002
'Urgent' phone call is a scam: RCMP
Last Updated Wed, 02 Oct 2002 12:50:10
OTTAWA - The RCMP's Phone Busters unit is warning people
about a phone scam that could ring up thousands of dollars
in hidden charges.
Here's how it works. You'll get a message telling you that you must call a certain number because of an emergency situation, such as:
a family member is ill
someone you know has been arrested
a family member has died
you have won a wonderful prize
a requirement to call in order avoid litigation over
something
According to police, the following area codes are part of
the scam:
264 Anguilla
268 Antiqua & Barbuda
242 Bahamas
246 Barbados
441 Bermuda
284 British Virgin Islands
345 Cayman Islands
767 Dominica
809 Dominican Republic
473 Grenada & Carriacou
876 Jamaica
664 Montserrat
787 Puerto Rico
758 St. Lucia
869 St. Kitts & Nevis
784 St. Vincent & the Grenadines
868 Trinidad & Tobago
649 Turks & Caicos Islands
340 U.S. Virgin Island
The codes above can be used as part of a "pay-per-call"
number, such as 1-900 numbers. Because the numbers operate
outside of North American jurisdiction, the company owning
the phone number isn't required to warn you of the charges
and the company can charge you regardless of how long you
are on the phone.
American police say some people have been charged $2,425 a minute. Sometimes, a person will get a long recorded message to keep the person on the phone as long as possible.
People should not to respond to any phone calls, e-mails or pagers that urge you to call a certain number. Check out where it comes from or call your relatives first.
Written by CBC News Online staff
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