DON'T push 90#

[Sara S]

90# on your telephone

I dialed '0', to check this out, asked the operator, who confirmed that this was correct
so please pass it on . . . (l also checked out Snopes.com " target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; "<https://snopes.com/> . This is true, and also applies to cell phones!)

PASS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW

I received a telephone call last evening from an individual identifying himself as an AT&T Service Technician (could also be Telus) who was conducting a test on thetelephone 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 DO NOT press 90# for ANYONE.

The GTE Security Department requested that I share this information with EVERYONE I KNOW.

After checking with Verizon they also said it was true, so do not dial 90# for anyone !!!!! PLEASE HIT THAT FORWARD BUTTON AND PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!

[Bryan]

Hi Sara - According to snopes.com, this scam is partially true. It only works for people in commercial settings that have PBX internal phone systems. Snopes specifically states it does NOT affect cell phone users or homeowners. Homeowners don't have that PBX system, and most small businesses do not either. Hitting 90# is an internal transfer function for PBX and allows the caller to dial a new number. It doesn't do anything for direct lines from PacBell or on cell phones. If you have such a system, you can disable this function so no one can make that transfer.

You can read the rest on this and may other rumours at:

snopes.com: #-9-0 Phone Scam (https://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/jailcall.asp)


90# on your telephone

I dialed '0', to check this out, asked the operator, who confirmed that this was correct
so please pass it on . . . <http: snopes.com="">!

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[Sara S]

Dear Bryan:

Thanks for being so astute! I didn't check it, just passed it on (almost-as-slow-as-dial-up computer service keeps me from checking lot of things!).

Sara

[PeriodThree]

Sara,

I am really confused, you write that you didn't check it out:


Dear Bryan:

Thanks for being so astute! I didn't check it, just passed it on (almost-as-slow-as-dial-up computer service keeps me from checking lot of things!).


But in your first message you wrote: "I dialed '0', to check this out, asked the operator, who confirmed that this was correct
so please pass it on . . . (l also checked out Snopes.com " target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; " . This is true, and also applies to cell phones!)"

this confuses me.

[Sara S]

Sorry about the confusion! I just posted the entire message that was sent to me; it was a forward to the friend who sent it to me. I didn't actually write any of the post itself.

Sara


Sara,

I am really confused, you write that you didn't check it out:



But in your first message you wrote: "I dialed '0', to check this out, asked the operator, who confirmed that this was correct
so please pass it on . . . (l also checked out Snopes.com " target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; " . This is true, and also applies to cell phones!)"

this confuses me.

[Barry]

Sara, et al,

Please don't post about potential scams or any other forwarded email that suggests you send it to "everyone you know" or any variation of that. If you have researched the issue at Snopes and states that is true and there is reason to be concerned then I would prefer you contact me privately about it before posting about it.

I keep my ear out for valid virus warnings and I will post them. If you hear

Speaking of which, my daughter got fooled by a popup that warned her that her computer was infected with viruses and that she should install "Rapid Anti-Virus" immediately, which is itself a rather nasty virus! Don't be fooled!

Thanks!