When people caught on to the 900 scam and the feds required them to start the calls with “if you continue this call, you will be charged $30 a minute”, the scam changed.
Early e-mail users would get a “your account will be closed today! Call this number to prevent that.” It was generic to catch generic idiots. It looked like a legit number, with an 809 area code so it looked like a US number. Except it was from somewhere in the Bahamas where they didn’t have to announce the cost at the start. When you called, a live-sounding recording said “Hi. Please wait.” and you heard office sounds. This went on until the sucker gave up and hung up (and maybe called back). Then you’d get a phone bill that you couldn’t contest because you did make the call and sit on the phone for 30 minutes, trying to keep your account open. I think the max charge allowed was $99 a minute.
Time to block that number, dear. Then no one on your end will be able to dial it up. Also, challenge the charge. If you didn’t make the call or give permission for the call to be made, then you can demand the phone company remove it.
Meg: All Seriousness Aside 3 months ago
When people caught on to the 900 scam and the feds required them to start the calls with “if you continue this call, you will be charged $30 a minute”, the scam changed.
Early e-mail users would get a “your account will be closed today! Call this number to prevent that.” It was generic to catch generic idiots. It looked like a legit number, with an 809 area code so it looked like a US number. Except it was from somewhere in the Bahamas where they didn’t have to announce the cost at the start. When you called, a live-sounding recording said “Hi. Please wait.” and you heard office sounds. This went on until the sucker gave up and hung up (and maybe called back). Then you’d get a phone bill that you couldn’t contest because you did make the call and sit on the phone for 30 minutes, trying to keep your account open. I think the max charge allowed was $99 a minute.
Wendy Emlinger Premium Member 3 months ago
Time to block that number, dear. Then no one on your end will be able to dial it up. Also, challenge the charge. If you didn’t make the call or give permission for the call to be made, then you can demand the phone company remove it.