The threat of the "809" phone scam--in which individuals try to trick people in the U.S. into calling a seemingly-national, but actually-international phone number--is blown ridiculously out of proportion by an e-mail circulating the net.

The basic premise of the e-mail is true. The area codes do lie outside the United States and certain scam artists do try and trick people into the U.S. into calling them. But experts say that the chances of this actually happening are very low.

Date Captured: 1/13/04

The Today Show mentioned it, as did CNN

809 Area Code

We actually received a call last week from the 809 area code.
The woman said "Hey, this is Karen.