for Consumers

International Telephone

Number Scams

FTC FACTS

TELEMARKETING

1-877-FTC-HELP

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION FOR THE CONSUMER

www.ftc.gov

e cautious when calling an unfamiliar telephone number ó 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.

Ads 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 ìpay-per-callî numbers,

where a portion of your international long distance charge goes to pay for the

information or entertainment you receive over the phone.

B
Facts for Consumers

You could end up with a hefty phone bill if

you call such an international telephone

number.

Thatís because each country sets its own

telephone rates and thereís 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 ó

and the longer you stay on the line ó the

more they profit.

Know Where You’re

Calling

Itís not always easy to tell if youíre calling an

international telephone number. In most

cases, you have to dial ì011î 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. And there are scam artists who

have taken advantage of this confusion by

promoting calls to ì809î numbers in the

Dominican Republic. While these telephone

numbers may look

like domestic long

distance calls,

international

telephone

rates apply.

Be a Smart Telephone

Shopper

These international telephone services are

similar to ì900î number services because you

purchase information or entertainment over

the telephone and pay for it simply by dialing

the telephone number. Providers of both 900

number and international pay-per-call service

make money based on the number and length

of calls generated to the pay-per-call numbers.

However, one very important difference is

that the protections afforded by the Federal

Trade Commissionís (FTCís) 900 Number

Rule ó clear disclosures about the cost of the

call before those costs are incurred ó do not

apply to international pay-per-call numbers.

If you are deciding whether to call an international pay-per-call number, you should also

know that:

● You wonít hear a free preamble stating

the cost of the call. Nor will you be given

an opportunity to hang up without being

charged.

● Ads for international pay-per-call numbers rarely, if ever, reveal the precise

amount that youíll be billed ó this can

result in a big surprise when your bill

arrives.

● Your telephone service may be cut off if

you donít pay the charges for international calls.

● Thereís no easy way to block access to

these numbers from your telephone.
i

Facts for Consumers

Beware of Scams

Some international pay-per-call numbers are

promoted in uniquely deceptive ways. You

may receive ìurgentî messages left on answering machines, pagers, or computer email, trying to get you to call the international number. The messages tell you to call a

long distance number for more information.

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 message may falsely

claim that a family member has been injured,

that youíve won a prize, or that thereís a

problem with your credit. If you return the

call, you may be unwittingly putting money

into the pockets of scam artists.

How to Protect Yourself

If you see an ad for an information or entertainment service, or receive an urgent message to return a call, follow these precautions:

● Be skeptical about area codes you donít

recognize, especially: 809 (Dominican

Republic); 758 (St. Lucia); or 664

(Montserrat). There are dozens of other

area codes (most in the Caribbean) which

connect callers 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.

● Be wary of ads for information or entertainment services which make such claims

as ìnot a 900 number,î ìno premiums

apply,î or ìLD rates apply.î The advertisers of these services would like consumers to believe that these pay-per-call

services are not as costly as 900 number

services when, in fact, they may be even

more expensive.

● Tell family members they need your

permission to call domestic or international long distance services. For example, children should be cautious of

telephone numbers outside your immediate area code and numbers with more than

10 digits.

● Promptly check your phone bill for long

distance charges you donít recognize. If

your bill contains an unauthorized call,

contact your local telephone company as

well as your long distance carrier. The

telephone company may provide a credit

or refund, but they are not required to do

so. However, your notification will help

the telephone companies identify telephone numbers which are the source of

abuses.

For More Information

The organizations listed here can provide

additional information and help you with

complaints.

● Your state

Attorney

General.

Most of

these

offices have

divisions that

deal primarily

with consumer

protection issues.
Federal Trade Commission

Bureau of Consumer Protection

Office of Consumer and Business Education

December 1996

F C EDERAL RADE OMMISSION T FTC OR HE ONSUMER

1-877-FTC-HELP www.ftc.gov

Facts for Consumers

● The Federal Communications

Commissionís National Call Center at

1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322).

The Center answers consumer inquiries

relating to communications law and

policy, matters pending before the FCC,

and any possible violations of FCC law or

policy.

● The FTC works for the consumer to

prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair

business practices in the marketplace and

to provide information to help consumers

spot, stop and avoid them. To file a

complaint or to get free information on

consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or

call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-

382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The

FTC enters Internet, telemarketing,

identity theft and other fraud-related

complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a

secure, online database available to

hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and

abroad.