Once the innocent victim calls the 809 area code number, the victim ends up contacting a person who tries to keep the victim on line or the victim is met with a long recorded message or even a clever recording that responds to the caller's voice. In all cases the scam attempts to keep the victim on the line as long as possible. The reason for this is that some of the numbers in the 809 area code are pay-per-call numbers codes like those in the 900 area code in the US. The result is a large long distance bill. The cost per minute has been recorded as high as $25 per minute.

The 809 number is not the only area code in Caribbean anymore and accordingly the scam can be used with other such numbers. See our article entitled 809 Scam: E-mail Regenerating an Old Scam for more details.

If you receive a message with an 809 area code or with any other area code that you do not recognize, then simply dont respond. If you still want to respond, then contact your local long distance carrier and ask for the rates that would apply in making the call.

AOL Alert

We have received complaints recently from AOL subscribers indicating that they have been called or e-mailed from an AOL representative requiring that he needed to verify their credit card number. The caller requested the number and the expire date. In another case the e-mail had the AOL logo affixed and again requesting credit card details.

AOL does not require any credit card verification. Never give out any credit card details. If you receive such a call or e-mail, do not give out any information. Let AOL know about any such call or e-mail.

Please read our article on Online Credit Credit Card Use located in our Article Centre for more information.

If you have been scammed, file a complaint at our site to alert others.

Cramming

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently issued a statement warning the public about cramming.

Cramming is the practice of some Internet service providers charging for services that were supposed to be free or that were never ordered in the first place. These charges are then crammed onto the customer's credit card without the customer's consent. In one recent reported case, a church that had engaged the web site hosting services of a company, found out that it was being charged for the cost of the company web hosting a duplicate but somewhat more skeletal site. The church didn't know of the second site.

Here are some suggestions to avoid being crammed:

• Read your bills carefully line by line. Check your bill as soon as possible and don't wait to complain. If you didn't order a service or if the service was charged higher than represented, don't pay. You do not have to pay for services that you didn't order even if you received such services.

• If you are a business, inform your employees of this scam so that they will be on the outlook for such scams.

• Only deal with internet service providers that you know. Don't be pressured into buying any offers made by unsolicited calls. Don't be afraid to say no.

• If your bills are crammed, cancel your service with that company and retain the services of another company. Even after you have cancelled your service with that company, check your credit card to ensure that the company is still not charging the amount to your card. Call your credit card provider and let them know about the problem.

• Finally report the scam to our Complaint Centre and your local Better Business Bureau. You may also want to contact your local Enforcement Agency to assist you in closing the service provider down.

Credit Card Use

We have received complaints recently about the unauthorized charging of credit cards resulting from site visitors joining up for free trial periods or trial periods at discounted costs.

In each case the scam site charges unauthorized amounts to the visitors credit card. In some cases the site fails to tell you that your failure to cancel the membership during the free or discounted trial period results in the automatic activation of a full-time membership. Many of the credit card scams are occurring at adult websites.

Remember these tips:

• Never give out your credit card number unless you are purchasing an item online with a well known site.

• Be suspicious of any site that requires your credit card number for age verification. This usually is a common scam at adult sites.

• There is no reason to give your credit card number for a free trial period.

• Be cautious at sites that offer a discount introductory trial period, especially online adult sites.

• Always read the fine print to determine how to cancel your trial offers or memberships. Some free trial periods actually require you to join a 3 month membership as a minimum.

• Review your credit card invoices upon receipt to for any unauthorized purchases and report any discrepancies to your credit card issuer.

• If, after you have reported any crammed expenses to your credit card issuer, your credit card issuer is still permitting similar crammed expenses showing up on your card, cancel your card.

• Use as few credit cards as possible and destroy and cancel ones that you don't use frequently.

Remember that once a scammer has your credit card number, he or she can charge your account with unwarranted charges or use your credit card number to purchase items for the scammer's benefit.

If you have been a victim, file a complaint at our site to alert others. Also contact your local better business bureau and your state or provincial governmental consumer department or ministry.

Pagejacking and Mousetrapping

Be advised of the technique of some scammer websites of "pagejacking" and "mousetrapping" which tricks internet users into visiting scammers websites and then holding them there despite efforts of the visitors to exit the site.

On September 22, 1999, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a press release stating that the "scammers copy existing Websites and insert coded instructions in the copycat sites which automatically redirects unwitting consumers to adult sites operated by the defendants. Then the scammers disable the browser's "back" and "exit" commands so that Internet surfers trying desperately to escape the pornographic images face screen after screen of similar material and advertisements for other adult sites." In other words when internet surfers used search engines to find subjects such as 'wedding services' or 'Kids on the Net,' they would find themselves redirected to pornographic sites instead. Then despite their efforts, the surfers would not be able to leave such sites by pressing the "close" or "back" button of their browsers.

Scammers benefit by making money by selling ads, which is based on the number of visitors to the site. Each time the visitor tried to leave, he would reenter the site which would count as a new visit thereby increasing the advertising revenue to the scammer.

According to the press release the FTC obtained a preliminary injunction and is seeking a court order to permanently stop this scam on the Internet.

What can you do?

• Disable the "Java script," function of your browser before you surf the net. This will prevent your inability to exit the scammer site if the programming instructions used to disable your "back" and "exit" commands was Java Script.

• Obtain internet filtering software which would filter pornographic and other offending material. This should help in avoiding being redirected to the pornographic site. Ensure that your filtering software is constantly updated.

• If you find yourself at the scammer site, manually enter a new URL or web address or choose a new site from your favorites folder.

• By depressing the triangle on the "back" button of both Netscape and Internet Explorer, and choosing the second last URL (web address).

If you encounter pagejacking or mousetrapping, report it to our Complaint Centre and to the FTC.

For more information, please read our article on Pagejacking and Mousetrapping.

International Telephone Fraud

The RCMP has received reports that deceptive e-mail messages are being sent advising the recipient internet user that an order for goods worth hundreds of dollars will be billed to the recipient's credit card unless the recipient cancels the order (which was never been placed). The recipient is told to call the telephone number indicated on the e-mail message immediately. The telephone number is an international number, the cost of which appears on the recipient's telephone bill some time later.

Nigerian Letter Scam

The Nigerian letter scam is well known to many people around the world. This scam is now being perpetrated through the internet via email. The scam comes in many forms and it usually involves innocent recipients who receive a letter from a Government Official or an officer of a Nigerian state business who claims to have stolen millions of dollars and needs to get the money out of the country. The person cannot use his own bank account and therefore asks to send money to your bank account after which he would give you 10-35% of the money in exchange for this service. Once the fraudster had your account number he then would withdraw money from your account.

There are many variations of this scam. Such scams have included the opportunity to receive a tremendous return on your investment. Your are asked to send monies overseas to a certain bank account and either the innocent investor is asked to invest more and more to avoid losing money on their investment. In all cases the money is lost and unrecoverable. This scam is not restricted to letters or emails from Nigeria any more but all involve the same telltale signs. The scam either requires upfront money or your back account.

If you receive an unsolicited email resembling the foregoing, then simply delete the email and contact your local Enforcement Agency.

Remember to never give out your bank account or other financial or personal information and never advance any funds up front.

Pentagono

Be advised of a scam, known as "Pentagono" operated through an Internet home page provided by an Italian company, Future Strategies Srl (Srl, meaning a limited company registration in Italy). This scam involves the company soliciting funds on the Internet by way of a participation in a pyramid type scheme offering huge returns on investment.

The company soliciting the funds claims to be registered with the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Modena and approved by the Italian authorities.

Future Strategies solicited United States residents to purchase Pentagono "Certificates," now called "Card Purchase Orders" or "CPOs," which Future Strategies prepared and issued. At least 400 investors throughout the United States have invested in this scheme. The complaint alleges that Future Strategies, as part of its solicitation, claims that an investor can earn up to $116,400 from an investment of approximately $120 through the Pentagono scheme.

For more information go to the website of the RCMP