Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter



CAT Tracks for January 19, 2005
WARNING - TELEPHONE SCAM

Urban Legend???

Received a warning from the IEA. Passing it on, just in case...


PASS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW

I received a telephone call last evening from an individual identifying himself as an AT&T Service technician who was conducting a test on telephone lines. He stated that to complete the test I should touch nine(9), zero(0), the pound sign (#), and then hang up.

Luckily, I was suspicious and refused.

Upon contacting the telephone company, I was informed that by pushing 90#, you give the requesting individual full access to your telephone line, which enables them to place long distance calls billed to your home phone number.

I was further informed that this scam has been originating from many local jails/prisons. I have also verified this information with UCB, Telecom, Pacific Bell, MCI, Bell Atlantic, and GTE. Please beware.

DO NOT press 90# for ANYONE.


Postscript: After posting this story, I decided to check it out at "snopes.com" - an internet source for "urban legends". Snopes.com gave this telephon scam a rating of "sort of" - it can work on a business phone system...thus IEA's concern. It can only work on a home/cell system if you have to dial "9" to gain access to an outside line.