As part of our ongoing effort to prevent crime in the community, members of the San Carlos Police Department have developed a series of educational presentations. These presentations are made to service clubs, schools and community groups in San Carlos. To expand the usefulness of this material, we are now bringing this material to the Internet. We hope you find helpful and of interest.

-- Greg Rothaus, Police Chief, City of San Carlos

International Telephone Number Scam

Be cautious when calling an unfamiliar telephone number it could be a costly international telephone call. Consumers nationwide are being lured into calling international telephone numbers through advertisements and other promotions for interesting or important information.

Advertisements may promise information and entertainment services ranging from psychic readings to chat lines to employment opportunities. You may be unaware that some of these numbers are actually costly international "pay-per-call" numbers, where a portion of you international long distance charge goes to pay for the information or entertainment you receive over the phone.

You could end up with a hefty phone bill if you call such an international telephone number. That's because each country sets its own telephone rates and there is no limit to the per-minute charge.

The companies urging you to call have an incentive to keep you on the line as long as possible because they receive a portion of the international long distance charge. The more often you call and the longer you stay on the line the more they profit.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers these guidelines to help you avoid losing money to these scams.

Know Where You Are Calling

It is not always easy to tell if you are calling an international telephone number. In most cases, you have to dial "011" to begin your call to a foreign country. But, there are locations outside the United States and Canada, many of them in the Caribbean, where you simply dial the area code and number to reach your party.

There are scam artists who have taken advantage of this confusion by promoting calls to "809" numbers in the Dominican Republic. While these telephone numbers may look like domestic long distance calls, international telephone rates apply.

How To Protect Yourself

Be skeptical about area codes you don't recognize, especially: 809 (Dominican Republic); 758 (St. Lucia); or 664 (Montserrat). There are dozens of other area codes (most in the Caribbean) which connect calls to an international telephone call.

Check your telephone directory or call the operator to determine if the area code is for a domestic or international location before calling.

For More Information

Contact the California State Attorney General or the Attorney General in your State. Most of these offices have divisions that deal primarily with consumer protection issues.

Acknowledgement
The following information was provided by the San Carlos Police Department. We appreciate their help in the preparation of this material and their permission to make it available to members of the public via the Internet.