Detective Sergeant Terence Murphy, Detective Albert Robichaud, and Detective Robert Brun

There is a Phone Scam alert everybody should be aware of.

        Please, do NOT respond to e-mails, web-pages, phone calls or pager messages which tell you to call an "809" phone number.  This is a very important issue of "Scam Busters" alerting you to a scam that is spreading extremely quick, and can easily cost you $24,100 or more and is difficult to avoid unless you are aware of it.

        There are lots of different permutations of this scam, but here's how it works:  You will receive a message on your answering machine, or by e-mail, or on a web-page, or you pager, which asks you to call a number beginning with the area code "809".  The reasons you are asked to call will vary.  It can be to receive information about a family member who has been ill, or to tell you someone has been arrested or died, or 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 U.S., you will apparently be charged $2,425.00 per minute.  This company will try to keep you an 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 Islands (The Bahamas).  the "809" area code can be used as a "pay-per-call" number, similar to "900" numbers in the U.S..  Since "809" is not in the U.S., it is not covered by the 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.