All morning my cell was ringing off the hook....but as I was in class I couldn't answer it. ( Don't worry it was on Vibrate and the learning process was not interupted in anyway. ) So at lunch I see I have voicemail from a 551 # I don't know.

I listen and the message goes something like this " Hello Kim. This is Eric from Cingular Wireless calling to discuss your account. Please call me back at 551- blah blah blah."

So I call back and the same guy " Eric" answers and he's like Ummm...Eric isn't here now.

So I hung up and called Cingular who told me that there was no call made to me today, and that there is no reason for Cingular to be contacting me at all. But they told me, if he calls back I should talk to him, find out what he wants but not give him any personal info, and call Cingular back and tell them what he wanted and what he said.

They put a note on my account so they know it happened....but it was just really odd.Cingular also said that if they ever do need to contact a customer they call from a 1 -800 number.


Anything like this ever happen to you guys out there?

Be careful

sounds like a phone version of when you get fake e-mails asking to verify your paypal account. what's that called, phishing? asses.

Anx said:

Yeah I know, but how did he know my name?

DanceWme said:

I am.

IrresistibleB1tch said:

yup assholes.

Whoa!
Thats scary! How did he get your number?!

The only time someone tried to scam me was on ebay. They contacted me about an item I lost a bid on. They tried to give me a second chance offer. I asked for his phone number and he said he was deaf

ThreadCula said:

My boyfriend had a similar issue with Ebay.

im wondering if by dialing 551 first, you then enable his phone account to make calls on YOUR phone account

Sweeny79 said:

do you say your name on your voicemail announcement?

Put the number into Google or Zabasearch and see what comes up.

I'd once received a strange call similar to your experience and, after a bit of investigating, subsequently discovered that the call was indeed connected to a scam.

purplerein said:

I just figured 551 was the area code....

purplerein said:

naw that was the area code

IrresistibleB1tch said:

Not my last name...which he knew.

CortestheKiller said:

yuppers

I was trying to call and see if you were ready to meet Jack.

Sweeny79 said:

ThreadBare said:

purplerein said:

no, i mean this guy.

809 Area Code Scam

Claim: Unsuspecting phone customers have been gulled by scam artists into placing calls to area codes in the Caribbean that result in hefty charges.

Status: Real fraud, but its usage is rare and most victims are taken for only a small amount of money.

Example: [Collected on the Internet, 2000]

DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809

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 & pass it on to all your friends & family so they don't get scammed! Don't respond to Emails, phone calls, or web pages which tell you to call an "809" Phone Number. This is a very important issue of Scam Busters! because it alerts you to a scam that is spreading *extremely* quickly - can easily cost you $24,100 or more, and is difficult to avoid unless you are aware of it. This scam has also been identified by the National Fraud Information Center and is costing victims a lot of money.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:

You will receive a message on your answering machine or your pager, which asks you to call a number beginning with area code 809. The reason you're asked to call varies, it can be to receive information about a family member who has been ill, to tell you someone has been arrested, died, to let you know you have won a wonderful prize, etc. 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.

If you call from the US, you will apparently be charged $2,425 per-minute. Or, you'll get a long recorded message. 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.

WHY IT WORKS:

The 809 area code is located in the British Virgin Islands (the Bahamas). The 809 area code can be used as a "pay-per-call" number, similar to 900 numbers in the US. Since 809 is not in the US, it is not covered by U.S. regulations of 900 numbers, which require that you be notified and warned of charges and rates involved when you call a "pay-per-call" number. There is also no requirement that the company provide a time period during which you may terminate the call without being charged. Further, whereas many U.S. phones have 900 number blocking to avoid these kinds of charges, 900 number blocking will not prevent calls to the 809 area code. We recommend that no matter how you get the message, if you are asked to call a number with an 809 area code that you don't recognize, investigate further and/or disregard the message. Be wary of email or calls asking you to call an 809 area code number. It's important to prevent becoming a victim of this scam, since trying to fight the charges afterwards can become a real nightmare. That's because you did actually make the call. If you complain, both our 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. Please forward this entire message to your friends, family and colleagues to help them become aware of this scam so they don't get ripped off.

http://www.snopes.com/fra...ne/809.asp

Im wondering if it's a version of that.

purplerein said:

huh.

well 551 is a jersey area code so I doubt it.

ThreadBare said:

What an awful photo of such a beautiful man.
oh and

Be aware of Ebay and Paypal scams too. Usually it's an email that looks legit...logos and everything...even the page you go to is emulated. They basically want you to verify your account and say something like "We believe your account may have been misused" and you go to log on...if you notice the page you are on is NOT Ebay nor Paypal in the address (maybe the end of the address says ebay or paypal, but the front of the address is NOT either company. I believe the scam is when you verify your account by logging in. I think they grab your password to your account.

Beware!

Sweeny79 said:

BASTIDS

superspaceboy said:

I mess with their heads with those Emails. I click the link and verify with Email address such as "ThickF*ck@Scammingb*st*rds.com" and a password like "youthievingshitbag" .....Then I send the email to the spoof@ address.

I know its silly, but it makes me feel better.....Especially as a couple of years ago someone actually used my account to try and sell a motorcycle and I ended up being NLRU'd for like 2 months until they sorted it all out

myownprivateinsanity said:

I hope you got a good price for the motorbike!!

ZombieKitten said:

I Wish !!!!

All I got was all my auctions and Bids closed.....

myownprivateinsanity said: