2152 - Scam alert

That's the title of the AARP article. Scam alert. But it's a scam that can catch anyone. I'm retired from the phone company and I might not have caught this. And the more I think about it I think this is an old scam that may be coming back.

Say you get a call from a number with an area code of 284, 809, or 876. The 284 number looks like a normal area code as does the 809. The 876 number looks like it might be a toll free area code.

Guess what. These are all area codes of islands in the Caribbean. If you call them back to see who called you will get charged $1.49 to $3.99 a minute. And they will try and keep you on the line as long as possible because whoever answers the phone is getting a cut of the charges. Sort of like a 900 number.

So if you ever needed an excuse not to call a number back to see who called you, this is it.