Long Distance Telephone Scams
Below you find descriptions of some more common long distance scams, as well as how to avoid being taken in by them. If you have been victimized by a long distance scam, please refer to the end of the article to find a list of organizations that may be able to provide you with assistance.
The Call Forwarding Scam
A caller receives an automated (usually) call or message that they have won a prize, money or contest. The call will tell you to dial a two-digit code, preceded or followed by the * or # key (for example: *77 or 76#) and them to dial an 800 number to claim whatever it is they claim you have won. After dialing the telephone number as directed, you will not be connected to anyone. However, by following their instructions, you have unknowingly programmed your phone to forward your incoming calls to the long distance operator. The scammers then dial your number, get connected to the long distance operator and place expensive phone calls, which are billed to your home telephone number. If you receive this type of call, hang up or erase the message. Do not place the call. It is highly unlikely a legitimate company would notify you of a prize in this manner.
The Charity Scam
Scammers often label their fake charity with names that sound like well-known or legitimate organizations. Be sure to ask the caller if they are a professional fundraiser with the organization and how much of your donation actually goes to charity. Always ask them to send you this information in writing along with the name, address and phone number of the charity they are calling for. Always check the organization out with the Better Business Bureau before donating.
The Calling Card Abuse Scam
A typical telephone calling card scam usually happens when you receive a call from someone claiming to be with a fraud prevention division of a well-known long distance carrier. During the call, the scammer informs you that there has been activity on your calling card that appears to be suspicious. They tell you that in order to verify that this potential fraud is being charged to your calling card, that they must verify the last eight or nine digits of your calling card.
In order to get your trust, the scammer will tell you the first five or six digits of your card, asking you to follow up with the remainder. These first five to six digits are fairly common. Never, under any circumstances should you give your calling card number to anyone over the phone. This is not how a real long distance carrier would verify this issue with you. If you have given out your calling card number, immediately cancel the card and request a new one.
The 809, 284 and 876 Area Code Scam
This is a scam that tricks customers into calling an International number. While in most cases, you need to dial "011" to reach an International number, some locations outside the United States do not. For example, the 809, 284 and 876 area codes do not require you to dial "011" even though the location they are designated for is outside the United States, in the Caribbean. This scam usually involves receiving an ad, a page, an email or a message on your answering machine that requests for you to call a certain phone number. Not only can you be charged International rates for phoning this number, but also some numbers in these areas are "pay-per-call" numbers (i.e. called 900 numbers in the United States).
In the US, you must be warned that you are phoning a 900 number, but since these locations are outside the United States, they are not subject to our laws. The person who answers the phone will keep you on the line as long as possible and that could leave you with a hefty bill. To protect yourself, know these area codes and never return calls from strangers to an area code you are not familiar with. You can also do an area code search online to find out what state and country the call is to before deciding whether or not to return a call to a strange number.
If you believe you have been victimized by a long distance scam, you can try contacting one of the agencies below for help and information:
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