The #90 is classified as an Urban Legend unfortunately. The link below explains that the only way it could work is if you have to dial "9" to access an outside line. Home users are completely safe from this exploit and it sounds like most business systems are as well.
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/weekly/aa021898.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kidney, John" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "MS Staff" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "PV Staff" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "SS Staff" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us> Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 10:09 PM Subject: [info-tech] IMPORTANT: Telephone Scam Info | For your information. | | John Kidney | Webster City | | -----Original Message----- | From: Adams, Dan | Sent: Thu 2/9/2006 8:20 AM | To: HS Staff | Cc: | Subject: FW: Telephone Scam[Scanned] | | | | | | | Lu Funnell | Office of Location and Environment | Iowa Department of Transportation | Ames, IA 50010 | 515-239-1431 | e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | | _____ | | | | 9 - 0 - # (on the telephone) | | PASS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW | | 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, Bell Atlantic and GTE. Please beware. | | DO NOT press 90# for ANYONE. | | The GTE Security Department requested that I share this information with EVERYONE I KNOW. | | PLEASE pass this on to everyone YOU know. | | If you have mailing lists and/or newsletters from organizations you are connected with, I encourage you to pass on this information to them. | | | | | After checking with Verizon they said it was true, so do not dial (9),zero(0), the pound sign # and hang up for anyone. | | | | | | | PLEASE HIT THAT FORWARD BUTTON AND PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW | | | | | | | | _____ | | Block Spam Emails - Click here! <http://promos.hotbar.com/promos/promodll.dll?RunPromo&El=&SG=&RAND=38196&partner=fastutility> | | | | | _____ | | | | | No virus found in this incoming message. | Checked by AVG Free Edition. | Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.2/253 - Release Date: 2/7/2006 | | | NfǞw~z{zǽyhryٲzǢkɲםjض j)Ƚ~rk& --- [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus on the server aea8.k12.ia.us] --------------------------------------------------------- Archived messages from this list can be found at: http://www.mail-archive.com/info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us/ ---------------------------------------------------------
