I received the following warning from a member, who had received it by email, and checked it out to some degree and wanted to pass it on to members. It turns out that it does not affect residential customers, although some business PBX's could be affected. The 9-0-# scam has been around for years and is directed at businesses, hospitals, government agencies and other organizations that use telephone switching equipment called private branch exchanges (PBXs) to handle their calls. Do you, as the average residential phone customer (in the USA, at least), have to worry about this scam? No, not unless your home phone requires you to press '9' to obtain an outside line. Otherwise, the only result you'll obtain from trying this is likely to be a fast busy signal.

Here is the warning I received:

If you haven't received info below, please make note and pass it on.

There must be another phone scam going around. I received a telephone call from an individual identifying himself as an AT&T Service Technician who was conducting a test on our telephone lines.He stated that to complete the test we should touch nine (9), zero (0), the pound sign (#) and then hang up. Luckily, we were suspicious and refused.

Upon contacting the telephone company we were informed that by pushing 90# you give the requesting individual full access to your telephone line, which allows them to place long distance telephone calls billed to your home phone number. We were further informed that this scam has been originating from many of the local jails/prisons. I have also verified this information with UCB Telecomm.

Please beware. This sounds like an Urban Legend - IT IS NOT!!! I further called GTE Security this morning and verified that this is definitely possible. DO NOT press 90# for ANYONE. The GTE Security department requested that I share this information with EVERYONE I KNOW!!! Could you PLEASE pass this on. If you have mailing lists and/or newsletters from organizations you are connected with, I encourage you to pass on this information."

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