Attorney General's News Release

March 7, 2001

Nixon warns Missourians about 809 area code scam

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today warned Missourians to be cautious about returning telephone calls to the 809 area code when the phone number has been left by a stranger. The 809 area code numbers are not toll-free calls, Nixon said, but instead result in costly calls to countries in the Caribbean.

The Attorney General's Office has received several complaints recently from people who were left messages on their answering machines telling them that they needed to call the 809 number because of a family emergency. There is no emergency, in fact, and the call ends up being expensive for the consumer, with rates running tens or hundreds of dollars per minute. Some consumers even have reported being charged a rate of $2,400 per minute, Nixon said.

"The con artists making these calls use a false emergency to force worried family members to call them back, or even use the false promise of winning a lottery," Nixon said. "Unless you know someone who is in the Caribbean, don't return those calls. You should verify that there is no emergency some other way than being conned through an expensive and unnecessary call."

Nixon also said that with the recent additions of the 888, 877 and 866 toll-free area codes, consumers easily might think that 809 numbers also are toll-free.

Consumers who have questions or complaints about 809 area code scams should download a complaint form or contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818