*72 Prison Scam
How it works: You receive a call from an operator saying there is an inmate from a correctional facility who needs you to accept a collect call and the associated charges. Once you accept the call, the caller convinces you to hang up your phone, dial in *72 and another phone number. * 72 is the code used to forward your incoming calls to another number, if you have call forwarding service or if it's available on a per-use basis in your local exchange. If you do this, the inmate will then make additional collect calls to your number, but the calls will be forwarded to someone the inmate knows at the number where you forwarded the calls. That person accepts the charges, but they are billed to you. Often you don't realize this has happened until you notice your phone not ringing or you receive your bill with numerous unexpected charges.
You will be charged for calls from this nubmer. It is for collect calls from a Correctional Facility. Call your phone company NOW! I have a $150.00 phone bill and am now trying to dispute!
I have been recieving these calls over the last four days. Called AT&T to block all collection calls but it has had not effect. They come in from 11am to 3am in the morning. They are driving me nuts.