Cagey Consumer's Telecom Alerts
Media recycles warnings about phone calls to Carribean countries
The information spread by the media 3 years ago about the so-called "809 pager scams" wasn't as useful as it should have been. Some stations are recycling that material. It's not clear if this is an ongoing scam that merits repetition or if the reporters have run out of material, but the reports contain the same significant factual omissions, as well as the same unsubstantiated claims of $25 a minute phone charges.
KATV Warning, 8/18/1999
Tallahassee Police Repeat 809 Warning
(Hoax du Jour, 9/1/1999)
AT&T News Release, 9/16/1996
Warnings about area code 809 inaccurate, ineffective
(Cagey Consumer, 1997)
The Cagey Consumer's recommendations
Foreign Telephone Calls with a "1" Access Number
Sex Line Hijacks Number for Child Abuse Hotline
Calling a child abuse hotline could result in pay-per-call charges for a sex line.
MCI Price Gouging
MCI Accused of Gouging
(Discount Long Distance Digest, 6/9/1998)
Prevent bogus charges on your phone bill
You can help to keep extraneous charges from appearing on your local phone bill by sending your phone number to each of these companies.
international collect call scam
Be wary of accepting collect calls!
Just Dial 10056
Call surcharges may turn promised savings into extra costs.
Long Distance Wholesale Club
Offer of free long distance is apparently fraudulent.
MCI Christmas story
MCI makes a deal with Santa Claus!
AT&T
How Promised Access Fee Reductions "Evaporated"
Minimum Rate Pricing
Long distance carrier that misrepresents itself as offering the lowest long distance rates.
Minimum Rate Pricing
Order May Prove Ineffective
one person's experience
(6/18/1997)
complaint by State of Minnesota
Minnesota temporary injunction request denied
(4/13/1998)
Determination that Wisconsin Consumer Law is Not Preempted
Multi-state Settlement with MRP for $1 Million
(10/30/1998)
not quite phony phone cards
Are they phone cards or lottery tickets?
PhoneMiser savings tough to find
Save money on long distance by
not
buying this product.
Sprint lies
Sprint misinforms the public about its products and services.
Telemarketing Fraud
(FTC)
avoiding phone scams
(Ameritech, 3/97)
Block 900 calls, check your phone bill, know where you're calling.
avoiding phone scams
(AT&T, 3/97)
Same old stuff all over again!
pay phones
Consumer Action
(1/93)
SF Chronicle
(12/97)
Choose the carrier you want to use when calling long distance from a pay phone.
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Updated September 9, 1999
