Be cautious when calling an unfamiliar telephone number – it could be a costly international telephone call
One of my coworkers recently put an ad up on craigslist to promote a property, received an email response asking him to call back a number. (908 554 2787)
Essentially the email goes like this…
Hello I saw your listing and I am very interested, could you give me a call when you have a moment? Just have a few questions. I am on the road and will not have access to my email. Thanks Mark—809 554 2787
Fortunately he did an online search on the number before calling and saw that it was a scam in that there is a charge (around $5-$10 to call the number). Believe they are called EZ numbers.
In a fact sheet on phone scams, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission notes that calls to certain offshore locales, many of them in the Caribbean do not require the international prefix 011, so it may not be obvious you are calling a foreign number.
“In many cases, the return-call number is an international pay-per-call line, with a three-digit exchange that looks like an American or Canadian area code,” the federal agency says.
Be skeptical about area codes you don’t recognize, especially: 649 (Turks and Caicos); 809 (Dominican Republic); 284 (British Virgin Islands); 876 (Jamaica), or 758 (St. Lucia).
How Can I Protect Myself?
If you are presented with an ad for an information or entertainment service, or receive a call from such a company, you should remember:
• Be skeptical of ads for services that claim they are “not a 900 number,” “LD rates apply,” or “no premiums apply.” These services may be even more costly than 900 numbers.
• Make sure you check your phone bill for charges you do not recognize. Contact your phone company and long distance carrier if you see any error.
• Be wary of area codes you do not recognize (i.e. 809 for the Dominican Republic or 664 for Montserrat). You can check their location in the telephone directory or by calling the operator.
• Tell your family that they need to get your permission before calling any long-distance services (domestic or international). This applies especially to children.
If all this information seems to complicated for you, at Palacio del Mar only 35 minutes south of the border you will have a 24/7 concierge service that will be more than happy to assist you with any small or big request.
If you are thinking in moving to Mexico, don’t think more act today. We Can Help. Call today 858-433-0561 or email Miguel Sedano info@rentinginmexico.com the perfect home is waiting for you.
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