Be cautious when calling an unfamiliar telephone number — it could be a costly international telephone call. Consumers nationwide are being lured into calling international telephone numbers through advertisements and other promotions for interesting or important information. Ads may promise information and entertainment services ranging from psychic readings to chat lines to employment opportunities. You may be unaware that some of these numbers are actually costly international "pay-per-call" numbers, where a portion of your international long distance charge goes to pay for the information or entertainment you receive over the phone.

You could end up with a hefty phone bill if you call such an international telephone number. That's because each country sets its own telephone rates and there's no limit to the per-minute charge. The companies urging you to call have an incentive to keep you on the line as long as possible because they receive a portion of the international long distance charge. The more often you call —and the longer you stay on the line — the more they profit.

Know Where You're Calling
It's not always easy to tell if you're calling an international telephone number. In most cases, you have to dial "011" to begin your call to a foreign country. But there are locations outside the United States and Canada, many of them in the Caribbean, where you simply dial the area code and number to reach your party. And there are scam artists who have taken advantage of this confusion by promoting calls to "809" numbers in the Dominican Republic. While these telephone numbers may look like domestic long distance calls, international telephone rates apply.

Be a Smart Telephone Shopper
These international telephone services are similar to "900" number services because you purchase information or entertainment over the telephone and pay for it simply by dialing the telephone number. Providers of both 900 number and international pay-per-call service make money based on the number and length of calls generated to the pay-per-call numbers. However, one very important difference is that the protections afforded by FTC's 900 Number Rule — clear disclosures about the cost of the call before those costs are incurred — do not apply to international pay-per-call numbers.

If you are deciding whether to call an international pay-per-call number, you should also know that:

• You won't hear a free preamble stating the cost of the call. Nor will you be given an opportunity to hang up without being charged.

• Ads for international pay-per-call numbers rarely, if ever, reveal the precise amount that you’ll be billed — this can result in a big surprise when your bill arrives.

• Your telephone service may be cut off if you don't pay the charges for international calls.

• There's no easy way to block access to these numbers from your telephone.

Beware of Scams
Some international pay-per-call numbers are promoted in uniquely deceptive ways. You may receive "urgent" messages left on answering machines, pagers, or computer e-mail, trying to get you to call the international number. The messages tell you to call a long distance number for more information. In many cases, the return-call number is an international pay-per-call line, with a three digit exchange that looks like an American or Canadian area code. The message may falsely claim that a family member has been injured, that you’ve won a prize, or that there's a problem with your credit. If you return the call, you may be unwittingly putting money into the pockets of scam artists.

How to Protect Yourself
If you see an ad for an information or entertainment service, or receive an urgent message to return a call, follow these precautions:

• Be skeptical about area codes you don't recognize, especially: 809 (Dominican Republic); 758 (St. Lucia); or 664 (Montserrat). There are dozens of other area codes (most in the Caribbean) which connect callers to an international telephone call. Check your telephone directory or call the operator to determine if the area code is for a domestic or international location before calling.

• Be wary of ads for information or entertainment services which make such claims as "not a 900 number," "no premiums apply," or "LD rates apply." The advertisers of these services would like consumers to believe that these pay-per-call services are not as costly as 900 number services when, in fact, they may be even more expensive.

• Tell family members they need your permission to call domestic or international long distance services. For example, children should be cautious of telephone numbers outside your immediate area code and numbers with more than 10 digits.

• Promptly check your phone bill for long distance charges you don't recognize. If your bill contains an unauthorized call, contact your local telephone company as well as your long distance carrier. The telephone company may provide a credit or refund, but they are not required to do so. However, your notification will help the telephone companies identify telephone numbers which are the source of abuses.

For More Information
The organizations listed here can provide additional information and help you with complaints.

• Your state Attorney General. Most of these offices have divisions that deal primarily with consumer protection issues.

• The Federal Communications Commission's National Call Center at 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322). The Center answers consumer inquiries relating to communications law and policy, matters pending before the FCC, and any possible violations of FCC law or policy.

December 1996