Telecom scams

[BlackCryptoKnight]

Recently, I got a phone call on my cell from a number that looked "strange" to me. When I answered the phone, there was silence, then the person hung up the phone. I googled the number and found a bunch of websites like this one where people posted about "strange" calls they got from similar numbers. The numbers in question appear to be Jamaican.

So this evening now, I read that American phone companies are starting to block calls to and from Jamaican numbers.

Here is some good info about phone scams. Too much of this going on now. What are the telecoms companies doing to crack down on these things?

[Morpheus]

I have been receiving similar calls everyday for the last two weeks. I answered the first time because I recognized the area code as being from St. Lucia, but the person on the other line had a thick Indian accent. I told them I wasn't interested but the y keep calling my number every day since then at around 11 am from the same telephone number.

[mjj4363]

Hello everyone,

It seems that area code 876 (Jamaica's only area code) is being blacklisted by many different telephone companies within the U.S. and Canada.

Back in late 2009, when I was in NJ, USA my telecoms provider (Verizon) blocked 876 numbers on my account, when I called and asked why they blocked 876 on my line the representative said it's because Jamaica's area code has been repetitively used for scams/telemarketing.

So, I searched google and found this:

http://www.ucan.org/blog/telecommuni...nal_Rates_Scam

Apparently, most people now think that the 876 area code is used by scammers only and not legitimate users...

What's your take on the subject?

Originally Posted by BlackCryptoKnight

What are the telecoms companies doing to crack down on these things?

Not much, considering most cellular phones being used in Jamaica are pre-paid with no billing information or subscriber info tied to the number(s).

The good news is that Jamaican telecom providers and the JCF are investigating these cases and tracking down the scammers.

Basically, what these scammers are doing is considered advance fee fraud which is illegal in both Jamaica and the U.S. so it's my guess that both U.S. and Jamaican authorities are working on the matter.

[Yung_Jah]

Receive a text from a strange number....and according to one of my TJ friend...he conclude its from Brazil....00239921067....its about calling for your prize...money or special phone goodies.

Called Customer care about the matter...they advice me not to call the number. I already knew it was Fake. Not as stupid as some Jamaicans who pick up the phone quickly and call and in the long run, waste their money to collect their prize.

[mjj4363]

Originally Posted by Yung_Jah

Receive a text from a strange number....and according to one of my TJ friend...he conclude its from Brazil....00239921067....its about calling for your prize...money or special phone goodies.

Called Customer care about the matter...they advice me not to call the number. I already knew it was Fake. Not as stupid as some Jamaicans who pick up the phone quickly and call and in the long run, waste their money to collect their prize.

Yeah, that's a number from SA and most likely Brazil.
See how wide-spread these things are? they are world wide.

People have lost everything they have to these criminals, now the victims and many others view Jamaica as a scammers paradise...some say Jamaica is becoming the equivalent to Lagos, Nigeria where many of these scams operated from for years.

Now when I call someone they are going to reject the call when they see "876" as the area code

[Greatis]

well they haven't been bothering me yet and I hope they keep it that way.

[techie2000]

Here is the US telecom scams are nothing new, people always trying to find some way to get your money. If still comes down to common sense, down give out you personal information on the phone or by email.

And if you are really not sure about the person, find out where they are calling from and do some research. Usually the scams come from blocked numbers or 800 lines.

[BlackCryptoKnight]

What are the telcos doing to fight these things?

[Utech22]

It is the first I am hearing about those sites.

[dwightmckie]

got to be on the look out for these scammers