CNN Headline News-
TERRELL OWENS CELL #
1-408-569-@#$%
The scheme preys upon U.S. and Canadian residents unfamiliar with the complexities of the phone system (which is most of us). We expect when we place to a call a standard area code + exchange + phone number combination (e.g., 213-555-1212), we\'re calling a person or entity located in the U.S. or Canada — connections outside those countries requiring the caller to first enter a country code, then a number generally different in format from the standard we\'re used to. However, some foreign territories and countries (such as the Dominican Republic or the British Virgin Islands) have also been assigned area codes, and therefore their phone numbers look like the "standard" phone numbers we\'re used to. Scammers use a variety of schemes to dupe North Americans into calling these numbers by sending messages to pagers, fax machines, e-mail addresses, or answering machines, and most recently posting fake sports stars and movie stars cell numbers on news groups and bullentin boards.
Once the victim places a call, he or she is connected to a fax machine, lengthy recorded message, or a pay-per-call service with a hefty up-front fee, all intended to keep him on the line as long as possible while the clock ticks and the charges mount. The scammer\'s foreign phone company then bills the victim via his local phone company, splitting the monies collected with the scammers and leaving the victim little or no recourse since the foreign phone company operates outside U.S. jurisidiction and is therefore not subject to U.S. laws (especially regulations requiring the operators of pay-per-call services notify callers in advance how much they will be charged for each call and offer them an opportunity to hang up without incurring any charges).
Some charges have been noted to exceed $2,000 us dollars for the first minute.
