Flim Flam dot Com

For Immediate Release

Foreign Telephone Calls with a 1 Access Number

Be extra careful before dialing an unrecognized area code!

Unscrupulous long distance telephone "companies" are tricking many consumers into dialing phone numbers which are actually in foreign countries. A number of foreign countries have a "1" access number (just like regular long distance in the U.S. and Canada). So called "employment opportunities" or "want ads" have been published in newspaper with a phone number in a foreign country. Area code 809 (Dominican Republic)   has been popular with con artists. Countries that have serious corruption problems attract these unscrupulous con artists who are able to make profit sharing deals with the foreign phone companies. Other reported methods of tricking consumers are to place calls to consumers answering machines with messages pretending to be in regards to a "family emergency" and giving a phone number in a foreign country. When the unwitting victims call, they are placed on hold to extend the length of the call and thus drive up the very expensive phone charge. Phone charges in this scam have been reported to be as high as $25.00 per minute.

The following is a list of foreign country area codes that use a "1" access number: