I hope someone may have some experience/insight into this.
My father in law recently put an ad up on craigslist. Received a email response asking him to call back a number. (908 554 2787) Essentially the email goes like this...
Hello I saw your ad on Craigslist 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---908 554 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
It is easy to recognize 900 / 976 numbers, but does anyone know how to recognize these numbers or how to block them? Looking at the number, it seems to be a normal number in a new jersey area code. I have heard of these also popping up in the philadelphia area. I spoke with my cell phone company (at&t) on how to block these outgoing calls but they said they could only 900 numbers and specific numbers. While this number would go on the list, don't know how to be proactive about others
thanks in advance
UPDATE: Changed title of this thread to reflect proper name of the phone numbers in question
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In case anybody wants to complain to Verizon or the state regulators, we should get the terminology straight. There is nothing called "EZ Numbers". There is a Verizon offering called "Easy Number" that allows a business to get a 555 number, like 212-555-6060. These numbers do not cost extra to call and are not what we are talking about here.
The rip-off numbers that we are discussing in this thread are called "Pay-per-Call" numbers. The well known variant is the long-distance pay-per-call number with a 900 area code. The insidous ones are local pay-per-call numbers that look like ordinary phone numbers, except that you get robbed every time you call one.
-- (quoted from bluechalk's post)
Message edited by: chris13579 on 2009-08-06 01:02:38 CDT
tripleB
Senior Member - 3K
posted: Aug. 4, 2009 @ 9:29a
We seriously need a telecommunications subforum.
tazzy531
Senior Member - 3K
posted: Aug. 4, 2009 @ 9:40a
How does this scam work? I can't find any information on it online. 908 is a NJ area code, not a premium number.
tazzy531
Senior Member - 3K
posted: Aug. 4, 2009 @ 9:41a
tripleB said:We seriously need a tripleB subforum.
Agreed!
pthor1231
Senior Member - 1K
posted: Aug. 4, 2009 @ 10:03a
tazzy531 said:How does this scam work? I can't find any information on it online. 908 is a NJ area code, not a premium number.
I think it's basically you call the number, and then it redirects you silently to a 900 number, which you pay the operator to call. There was a scam a while back where a 1800 or 1888 number was doing the same thing, and people thought since it was a toll free, it was ok.
tazzy531
Senior Member - 3K
posted: Aug. 4, 2009 @ 10:20a
pthor1231 said:tazzy531 said:How does this scam work? I can't find any information on it online. 908 is a NJ area code, not a premium number.
I think it's basically you call the number, and then it redirects you silently to a 900 number, which you pay the operator to call. There was a scam a while back where a 1800 or 1888 number was doing the same thing, and people thought since it was a toll free, it was ok.
I was under the assumption that when you forward the call, the forwarding party pays the telecom bill not the forwardee.
For example, I decide to forward all my calls on my land line to a number in Hawaii .. When you call me and get forwarded, I get charged the long distance bill. Right?
If this is really true, people need to make a stink about it.. (Press, Consumerist, Congress...) Because there is no easy way to identify a forwarding number. I could set my local phone number up with a business account and forward it to my own 900 number.
pthor1231
Senior Member - 1K
posted: Aug. 4, 2009 @ 10:26a
tazzy531 said:pthor1231 said:tazzy531 said:How does this scam work? I can't find any information on it online. 908 is a NJ area code, not a premium number.
I think it's basically you call the number, and then it redirects you silently to a 900 number, which you pay the operator to call. There was a scam a while back where a 1800 or 1888 number was doing the same thing, and people thought since it was a toll free, it was ok.
I was under the assumption that when you forward the call, the forwarding party pays the telecom bill not the forwardee.
For example, I decide to forward all my calls on my land line to a number in Hawaii .. When you call me and get forwarded, I get charged the long distance bill. Right?
If this is really true, people need to make a stink about it.. (Press, Consumerist, Congress...) Because there is no easy way to identify a forwarding number. I could set my local phone number up with a business account and forward it to my own 900 number.
From the bit you linked: Includes a pay-per-call option that enables you to charge callers a small fee for information-type services*
Maybe this is what "Mark" is using to scam people?
bluechalk
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 4, 2009 @ 10:31a
Information about these rip-off numbers are hidden on the Verizon website here.
Verizon calls them "pay-per-call numbers". They list the exchanges that are pay-to-call as 976, 940, 915, 556, 554, and 550, but also warn that this list is not exhaustive.
Maybe we need to contact Verizon customer service before every call to check that the number is not "pay-per-call".
nnc
New Member
posted: Aug. 4, 2009 @ 11:01a
Thank you for the information. This is from the fcc website http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/900Fact.html
If I interpret it correctly, it says that unless you authorize, only calls to 900 are pay-per-call The way I believe that this scam works is that the person just answers and hangs up so you get hit the connect cost
My question then is: Is what verizon is offering compliant with the FCC? For what it is worth, I filed a complaint through the FCC website
bluechalk
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 4, 2009 @ 11:10a
I suspect that Verizon only connects intrastate calls to these rip-off numbers. This way, the Federal Communications Commission has no jursidiction. The corrupt New Jersey government is in charge here.
SUCKISSTAPLES
Charter Member
posted: Aug. 4, 2009 @ 11:11a
so a 554 number is the new 976, regardless of area code
SUCKISSTAPLES
Charter Member
posted: Aug. 4, 2009 @ 11:11a
so a 554 number is the new 976, regardless of area code
tripleB
Senior Member - 3K
posted: Aug. 4, 2009 @ 11:14a
The 554 is considered the "exchange" in telecom speak.
pthor1231
Senior Member - 1K
posted: Aug. 4, 2009 @ 11:23a
tripleB said:The 554 is considered the "exchange" in telecom speak.
Take your geekery to the telecoms subforum.
AcidSpectrum
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 5, 2009 @ 1:28a
bluechalk said:Information about these rip-off numbers are hidden on the Verizon website here.
Verizon calls them "pay-per-call numbers". They list the exchanges that are pay-to-call as 976, 940, 915, 556, 554, and 550, but also warn that this list is not exhaustive.
Maybe we need to contact Verizon customer service before every call to check that the number is not "pay-per-call".
yeah, only if you have hours to spare, Verizon much prefers you talk to their machines or stay on hold than answer your "silly" questions. There is no customer service at Verizon, only customer aggravation.
If I interpret it correctly, it says that unless you authorize, only calls to 900 are pay-per-call The way I believe that this scam works is that the person just answers and hangs up so you get hit the connect cost
My question then is: Is what verizon is offering compliant with the FCC? For what it is worth, I filed a complaint through the FCC website
After reading the Verizon website and the FCC's site, it appears that Verizon is in cahoots with these criminals and is actually abetting them in fraudulent activity. While it is nothing new for Verizon to be a bunch of low-lifes, enough complaints to the FCC should at least get their attention and actually take some action about it. The FCC is pretty spineless though, so don't bet that it will happen overnight.
Maybe the best bet would be for Craigslist to be notified and they could post something on their pages about this new fraud to alert people who are posting there to watch out for this? Don't know that this would work or that they would do it (never dealt with CL), but maybe its worth a try?
martin628
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 5, 2009 @ 6:56a
You can put a pay-per-call number block on your home phone, and you can try to do the same with your cell carriers, but I don't believe they have the same blocking services...
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