Phone Scam Warning

Author: Cate Cotier at AZCCM30
Date: 2/24/98 4:01 PM

This message was forwarded to me, and I have verified it with AT&T. It is true, and needs to be transmitted widely. Thanks for your help! Sandy Dominick Corporate Travel, Customer Support 602-554-8147

If you get a call from someone identifying themselves as a phone technician performing a test, and this person asks you to touch nine (9), zero (0), pound sign (#) and then hang up - REFUSE TO DO SO! By pushing 90# you are giving the individual that called you access to your telephone line and allowing them to place a long distance telephone call, with the charge appearing on your telephone bill. We were further informed that this scam has been originating from many of the local jails/prisons. Please pass the word.

See the Urban Legends web site for more about this story:

Claim: Prisoners are duping residential phone customers into making long-distance phone calls for them by posing as phone company employees and asking customers to press the 9, 0, and # keys and then hang up.

Status: Not true enough to worry about.

Origins: This bit of scarelore hit the net in January 1998. Though this could happen at a few businesses whose phones are configured a certain way, residential customers are at no risk from this.