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Click on the blue titles for immediate access to named scam More Scams A more recent copy of the area code 809 warning Below is some recent Scam warnings A
LADIES MESSAGE TO ALL: PASS IT ALONG . 3 weeks ago, I was at a
service station in Brampton getting gas. It was about 9:30 pm. I was approached
by 2 men and 2 women in a car. The man that was driving asked me 'What kind of
perfume do you wear?' I was a bit confused and I asked him 'Why?' He said, 'We
are selling some name brand perfumes, at cheap prices.' I said I had no money. Dear Friends: THIS IS NOT PERFUME...IT IS ETHER! When you sniff it, you'll pass out. They'll take your wallet, your valuables and heaven knows what else. If it were not for this e-mail, I probably would have sniffed the 'perfume' but thanks to the generosity of an e-mailing friend, I was spared whatever might have happened to me. I wanted to do the same for you.
Bank machine scam Bank machine signage is being placed over the cash dispensing area of bank machines so customers are unable to retrieve cash dispensed. Then the cash dispensed is removed by the perpetrators. The signage is a heavy plastic plate with VISA printed on it. Check bank machines periodically to ensure the cash dispensing area isn't blocked. Convenience Cards switch There have been recent incidents where elderly customers have had their Convenience Cards either switched or taken at bank machines. The suspects approach the customer while they are using the bank machine and distract them by engaging them in a conversation or by dropping a $20 bill and asking the customer if the bill is theirs. They then either switch the card with another stolen card or just take the customer's card and leave. It is usually some time before the customer realizes that the card is missing or they have the wrong card. Watch out for this type of fraud. Telephone Scams
Telephone Scam A senior customer received calls from a man claiming to be a bank inspector. The man told her an employee of transit 04930 was under investigation and asked if she would be willing to assist with the investigation. He asked her to make a large cash withdrawal and meet him at Zellers. If she was questioned about the large withdrawal, she was to say it was for a personal emergency. She received another call from the same person saying the employee was transferred to transit 00930. She was again to make a large cash withdrawal and meet him at Zellers. She did this. She was then told she would receive another call, which didn't occur. Police were called. Chain Letters Chain letters are again appearing supposedly from RH Power Inc. The subject is Re: FW: PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSEEE Read!!!! Don't open this item. Delete it immediately. E-mail may not be used to further distribute chain letters, profanity, inappropriate humour. Telephone Scam CIBC, transit 01472, Brantford Mall, advises that a senior customer received phone calls from a male who claimed to be a CIBC employee. The caller knew she had GICs maturing at the end of October and he could offer her investments with a better rate of return, and offered to come to her home. He didn't give his name. The customer asked for the maturity dates of the GICs, and at what branch they were held. The caller didn't know. The customer told him to leave her alone or she would call the police. If you're told of similar situations, advise customers to not give out their personal information. |
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Alert again
Entered here 10th March 2003 - Submitted by a member I received this and want to pass it on in case I can
save some person grief - and an enormous telephone bill! |
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Subject: BELL
CANADA ALERT
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Telephone Scam An individual claiming to be an AT&T service technician calls and tells you they are conducting a test on the telephone lines and asks you to press 90# then hang up. If you press 90#, you give the individual full access to your telephone line. This allows the individual to place long distance telephone calls using your number and the call is billed to you. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT
INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US BY AT&T. Warning received April 10th 2001 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 to read this and pass it on to your friends and family so they don’t get scammed! MAJOR SCAM: Don't respond to E-mails, phone calls, or web pages a very important issue of Scam Busters because it alerts you to a scam that is spreading *extremely* quickly - can easily cost you $24100 or more, and is difficult to avoid unless you are aware of it. We'd like to thank Paul Bruemmer and Brian Stains for bringing this scam to our attention. This scam has also been identified by the National Fraud Information Centre and is costing victims a lot of money. 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 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. It you call from the US, you will apparently be charged $2425 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 $24100.00. 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 and/or investigate further and just 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 your 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. |