Picked this off another forum:
I received a telephone call last evening from an individual
identifying himself as an AT&T Service technician who was conducting a
test on telephone lines. He stated that to complete the test I should
touch nine(9), zero(0), the pound sign (#), and then hang up.
> >
> > Luckily, I was suspicious and refused.
> >
> > Upon contacting the telephone company, I was informed that by pushing 90#, you give the requesting individual full access to your telephone line, which enables them to place long distance calls billed to your home phone number.
> >
> > I was further informed that this scam has been originating from many local jails/prisons. I have also verified this information with UCB Telecom, Pacific Bell, MCI, </B>Bell Atlantic and GTE. Please beware.
> >
> > DO NOT press 90# for ANYONE.
"ted" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Picked this off another forum:
>
> I received a telephone call last evening from an individual
> identifying himself as an AT&T Service technician who was conducting a
> test on telephone lines. He stated that to complete the test I should
> touch nine(9), zero(0), the pound sign (#), and then hang up.
>> >
>> > Luckily, I was suspicious and refused.
>> >
>> > Upon contacting the telephone company, I was informed that by pushing
>> > 90#, you give the requesting individual full access to your telephone
>> > line, which enables them to place long distance calls billed to your
>> > home phone number.
>> >
>> > I was further informed that this scam has been originating from many
>> > local jails/prisons. I have also verified this information with UCB
>> > Telecom, Pacific Bell, MCI, </B>Bell Atlantic and GTE. Please beware.
>> >
>> > DO NOT press 90# for ANYONE.
>
This is a halfway hoax. This will not work with a residential phone,
however it has been known to work with some commercial PBX systems, where
you must dial 9 to get an outside line.
On Fri, 15 Apr 2005 22:44:55 GMT, ted <[email protected]> wrote:
>Picked this off another forum:
>
>I received a telephone call last evening from an individual
>identifying himself as an AT&T Service technician who was conducting a
>test on telephone lines. He stated that to complete the test I should
>touch nine(9), zero(0), the pound sign (#), and then hang up.
Ahhh. Jeeze! <G>
This is as old as the hills. It ONLY works from certain, old, very
specific PBXes. Most of the PBXes that would allow it are long gone,
converted to a central office switch based software PBX. It will not
work from your home phone unless you have Ma and Pa Kettle's Juice Can
and String telephone company. Even in that case, it probably WON'T
work. <G>
The key combo allows the incoming caller to be transferred to an
outgoing long distance trunk.
Barry
"ted" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Picked this off another forum:
>
> I received a telephone call last evening from an individual
> identifying himself as an AT&T Service technician who was conducting a
> test on telephone lines. He stated that to complete the test I should
> touch nine(9), zero(0), the pound sign (#), and then hang up.
<snip>
>> > DO NOT press 90# for ANYONE.
>
http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/jailcall.asp
--
Nahmie