IBECC Informational Update
                                        Contact: Marshall Barry
                                        Telephone: 719-685-nnnn
                                        e-mail: mbarry at IBECC.Org
                                        http://ibecc.org
                                        Denver, CO - 05-Oct-1996

                       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SCAM ALERT -- It has come to our attention that a clever scam is
being perpetrated over the Internet.  Also known for being sent
through pagers and voice mail messages, it works like this:

You will be informed that you have "24 hours" to settle an
outstanding account.  If you do not, "legal proceedings" will be
commenced against you.  You will be given a name and a phone number
to contact in order to discuss the matter to avoid court action.
One of the e-mails (electronic mail messages) going around gives a
particular name, the name of an important-sounding company, and a
very suspicious looking phone number... +1 809 xxx-xxxx.

This particular phone number we've found to be Puerto Rican, and
as such, for US Residents, does not contain any 'country code' --
it simply looks like a long distance number... the dialing of which
has the side effect of charging anything from $25 to perhaps
hundreds of dollars to your phone bill.

Unlike U.S. "900" and "976" numbers, which are required to inform
you that they are "billed to your telephone" and that you have a
specific length of time to hang up and avoid being billed, there is
NO such notice given, nor is there any requirement to do so.
Further, the charges may be billed at ANY rate, multiplied by the
number of minutes they can keep you on the line (the more minutes,
the more it looks like a "legitimate" call).

In contacting the local telephone company (U.S. West) we were
informed that such "scams" are getting to be very prevalent.  If
you DO request a refund, there is a special department that
actually handles that service.

They will inform you that it may take upwards of 90 days to be
credited, and that "denying the charges" does NOT release you from
paying for legitimate use or services -- further "the denied
charges may be re-billed to you directly."  You may also be "sent
to collection" by the other company; that is, the telephone company
is acting only as a "billing agent" and is NOT an arbiter, nor does
it verify that the claims or amounts are accurate or valid.  Many
people, rather than taking the "chance" that some person or company
with no legitimate claim may "take them to court", simply pay the
bill, saying and doing nothing.

PLEASE, always think these things through. If you do not recognize
the name of the company, or the phone number, remember that this
kind of scam is becoming more and more "popular".  Take a good look
at your phone bills if anything seems amiss -- don't let the
scammers get away with it.  Suspect unanticipated pages from
strange area codes.  Keep alert.

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IBECC is a Colorado Non-Profit Educational, Scientific, Charitable
Corporation founded in 1991.  Totally volunteer-run, IBECC supports
the electronic community and the principles of electronic freedom.
It provides free assistance in "getting online", as well as rumor
control, general information, donations of computers (as available)
to those who would otherwise be unable to afford them, and other
"in the public interest" services.