The Early Show

A New Scam Via Email

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

May 19, 1999 / 11:14 AM EDT / CBS

A new scam begins with an unusual email message and ends up with a huge phone charge on your bill. CBS News Saturday Morning Consumer Correspondent Herb Weisbaum can tell you how to protect yourself.

Here's how the scam works, using one recent case as an example. You're on your computer when you get an email that says that the package you ordered has been processed. But you didn't order anything. And, it says that a charge of $395.23 will be billed to your credit card-- unless you place a call to a customer service number with a 767 area code.

And here's where they get you, because that 767 area code isn't in the U.S. Dial it and you're calling the Dominica, West Indies.

Many consumers in the United States mistakenly believe that 10-digit dialing pattern (a 3-digit area code and a 7-digit phone number) is unique to the United States, but it's not. It is used throughout North America, and every Caribbean nation has its own 3-digit area code.

But there's more. Consumers who called this number were connected to an adult sex line. And, they were charged anywhere from $250 to almost $900 for the long distance call. Tuesday, the Federal Trade Commission shut down the phone number and announced it is investigating the company behind this scam.

You can protect yourself: First, if you get such a message, call telephone information and ask where the area code is that you are being asked to call. Secondly, if you try to reply to the email and a message comes back that your email is not deliverable--don't call.