Wondering why I have deleted email address and phone number. Because, believe it or not, people call these numbers and send email to these accounts and lose their money - fast.

What happens? A nice guy or gal picks up phone at other end and starts pulling you into scam. At first they need a thousand dollars, perhaps, for postage or some small official fee. They are fast talkers who do this all of time - and of you do give in and give them money you don't have a chance. You are hooked and you are hooked bad.

They depend upon greed and prey on weak. You think, "wow, I can get a million dollars", and "well, it's a risk but I'm only going to risk that first thousand". Foolish person.

Once you've given them your thousand (the amount varies) they start to reel you in. They will call to tell you they need another $10,000, perhaps, for bribes to customs officials. You'll pay because you've already paid a thousand, and because it sounds like money is just about to be transferred into your bank account.

So you'll pay. Then you'll call and you'll have to give them another amount, bigger this time, and deliver it in person, perhaps. You'll do it - you've already spent a lot of money and you don't want to lose it. You'll deliver money and then be given a story - only to get another call.

This time you will be very suspicious, and you might be told they need to "wash" all of money. You want to see, they'll meet you and indeed, they will have a handful of black money. They'll use some solvent and like magic money is clean.

They will explain that money was hidden and got "dirty" and now they need perhaps $50,000 to clean it. Some people have paid as much as half a million dollars at this point. The stories are sometimes different, sometimes same, but you'll pay. Because now greed is mixed with fear and a little more greed - you've actually had money in your hands now.

How long does this go on? Until you won't or can't pay anymore. Then you just get thrown away. People disappear, calls aren't return, and if you do get hold of someone they deny knowing you or give you some excuse.

Report it to someone? Who? The FBI? Sure, they know all about this scam. Yes, they will take your data and add it to their database - but scam is not operated on United States soil and there is no one to catch - at least no one who can be found. There is also little or no evidence - it's very difficult to catch this kind of thief.

So what do you do?

Use your brain.

Don't under any conditions give money to scammers. How do you spot a scam? Simple. The offer is too good to be true. It's that simple. Get a million for doing nothing? Come on. Doesn't happen (unless you win lottery). Don't even respond. Just delete emails or throw away letters.

Be smart.

Here's how this works. The 809 area code is similar in concept to 900 numbers. You get charged either per call or by minute. The problem is that 809 area code is in a foreign country (the Dominican Republic in Caribbean) and thus is not covered by United States law.

In United States, all 900 numbers must state in their advertisements and at start of call cost of call. You also have a small period of time (usually first minute) to hang up without being charged.

The 809 area code has no such restrictions. And since you made call voluntarily, it's very difficult to get phone company to reverse charges. In fact, in many cases you will find yourself arguing with a foreign phone company which argues that you did make call and they did nothing wrong and thus you need to pay.

The way to fight this scam is to simply refuse to call any unknown phone numbers in 809 area code. In company that I work in my day job, we have completely blocked ALL calls to 809 area code. We had to do this after getting nailed for many thousands of dollars of fraudulent calls.

It is also important to understand that 900 number blocking does not apply to 809 area code. You have to depend upon your own knowledge of scam and simply resist temptation to call number.