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Everyone has been scammed, shammed or frauded once in their life, even if we don't know it. I believe if we speak up about it, no matter how embarrassing or trifle, we can at least save someone else the grief of experiencing the same one.
August 21, 1998
Yesterday I received a bill from my long distance company with 11 calls that totaled almost $200.00. I didn't recognize any of the numbers and to my shock they were all international calls, well we don't even know anyone nor do we know anyone who knows anyone who lives out of the country.
I spent all day yesterday on the phone trying to find out where these calls were placed. Well to make a longstory short , I finally was in contact with the fraud department of my long distance carrier and they informed me that these were 800 numbers dialed directly from my house and were rerouted as international calls.
I couldn't believe this, never even knew that was possible. There was a country name on my bill that read Vanuatu, I asked where this country was and they told me that was the country that the adult party lines list. Well that set off all my alarm bells to say the least.
Then we had to prove that the calls could not of come from my home. I called the repair department to check my lines for crossed wires to see if there was anyway at all that these calls were placed someone else and billed to me. To my dismay my lines were perfect.
Their policy is : If the calls are made directly from your phone line you have to pay no matter what happened.
Well today I called the FCC and ask them for their help. They emailed me some information on all this mess. It turns out that when they did away with the 900 numbers the crooks figured out a clever way to get around it.
When most information service providers advertise that the first minutes are free, etc. They don't tell you that the call is not free. They use a 800 number and then reroute the call without your knowledge to whatever country they are in. And yes this is a Violation of the U.S. Federal law but when they are in another country there isn't much that can be done about it.
My 12 year old son is the one who called this number, it was a psyc. hotline. He was under the impression that it was free. He never did get in touch with a psyc. they just had a long menu that kept making him press numbers which is how they can reroute your call by you dialing the number even if you don't hang up.
MCI *long distance carrier* never did credit me for these calls even after they said they would, I ended up cancelling my account with them.
I want all parents to be aware and talk to all of your children that can dial a phone. You can not stop this from happening as of this date. There are no blocks or anything that you can do to protect your phone except to talk to your children , spouses, everyone you know and spread the word about what they are doing with these numbers and beware from here on out .....Them criminals are getting more clever everyday....I am also filing with the FTC and other organizations, so that maybe one day if enough voices ring out, we can attack these issues and bring them to a rest.
Here is a copy of my email from the FCC..
Be Watchful, Be Leary, They are out there. You better believe it, For it is True, They will rip you off and Then go Home (which used to be yours)!
If it Sounds to Good to Be True, it probably is. If it is Free, Look in the small writing for all of the fees.
Best Wishes
If you have any scams, shams or frauds to share
Speak Out!
(remember to put the category in the subject of your email, Thank you)
Email me
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