Citizen Alert

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Port Orange Police Department

809,284, & 876 AREA CODE SCAM

Periodically, e-mails warning of a scam involving calls from the 809 area code, 284 area code, and 876 area code. The e-mails contend that there has been fraud associated with unscrupulous scammers in these area codes. However, the message contains some misinformation, especially the highly exaggerated cost of a phone call to the 809 (Dominican Republic), 284 (British Virgin Islands), and 876 (Jamaica) area codes. This scam is less prevalent in recent years as the result of work done by United States phone carriers to eliminate access to fraudulent scammers. Most calls to these areas require the international prefix of 011 or the individual will receive a message that this call will have international call rates.. The victims usually received a telephone call from these area codes that they had won a prize and the victim needed to call them right away or to find out information on a sick relative and the victim would assume this was a legitimate call. Unfortunately, victims sometimes don't find out that they have been charged higher international call rates until they receive their bills. A crime prevention tip is as a general rule, return calls from recognizable area codes or call your directory assiatance or long distance operator to check the area code location. You may also file a complaint on-line with the Federal Communication Commission about this scam. 

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Date: 8:16:25 AM 03/1/2010 EST