have a look

[OUTLAW]

90# on your telephone
>
>
> I dialed '0' and asked the operator who confirmed that this was correct
> so please pass it on . . . (l also checked out <http://snopes.com/>
> Snopes.com ..this is true, and
> also applies to cell phones!)
>
> PASS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW
>
> I received a telephone call last evening from an individual identifying
> himself as an AT&T Service Technician (could also be Telus) who was
> conducting a test on the 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 individ ual 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
>
> DO NOT press 90# for ANYONE.
>
> The GTE Security Department requested that I share this information
> with EVERYONE I KNOW.
>
> After checking with Verizon they also said it was true,
> so do not dial 90# for anyone !!!!!
>
> "

[RichRog]

It would be a lot easier for the phone company to disable the 90# option than to try and get that information to every person with a telephone. What is the point of this in the first place?

[George C]

I do appreciate the information you post, so THANK YOU, Nick

[JT-C6]

I've unfortunately had to deal with this rumor every year or so at work as a technology person. This really only applies to companies using old PBX phone systems. It does not apply to residential phones or cell phones...

And for what its worth, I've spoken to a few people in jail. Their calls are monitored and any attempt to dial numbers or even asking the person you've called to "3 way" or "conference" someone else in usually results in the call being abruptly ended and the person in jail is usually sent to solitary confinement.

For more info, see:
http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/jailcall.asp and
http://web.archive.org/web/20020223071837/http://www.att.com/features/0398/90pound.html

[OUTLAW]

My question is, why would someone start a rumor like that? What is the intent?

As far as the prison inmate thing. One of my associates happens to be a State constable and he also worked @ Gratersford prison. He says:

"I do know that all calls made by an inmate from a prison are all collect calls. Unfortunatly, cells phones do manage to get inside. Calls made via an inmate are not all monitored. Its done randomly. "

[92RAGTOP]

This scam happened to me personally
Two years ago my Wife and I were traveling thru Iowa on our way to Denver. We stopped for the night at a very nice Holiday Inn in Council Bluff across from Omaha, Neb. Our room phone rang ten minutes after our arrival, the caller stated he was with VISA and not to worry our credit card was locked. He knew my name and that I was at the Holiday Inn in Council Bluff and that I just checked in using my VISA. My BS meter went to red but I played along, I asked him why was it locked? He said it was reported stolen. I said they are mistaken. He said that if I was sure he would give me the unlock number that will allow me to use it again. So far no harm, I said OK give me the unlock number. Then he said first I need to verify your VISA card number to make sure you're who you are. BADA-BING I said OK read me the number an d I'll tell you if it's right. He said no. I said ok tell me the first 4 numbers and I'll tell you the rest. He got angry and said this isn't a game. I told him that if he could correctly guess the first and last digit I'll give him the rest. Of course I was messing with him by now. He said just give us the number. I said just kiss my white *&^. He hung up.
I realized that the only person that knew we were there were the 2 bimbos at the front desk. I immediately went to the desk sat them down and asked them if they gave my name to anyone. They looked guilty as hell but said no. I told them I was calling the police. Then they admitted they did. I told them I'm calling the police for sure. They began to cry. GOOD. I asked them why would they do this. They said that after we checked in they got a phone call from the FBI. They said they were tracking a terrorist couple and that couple just checked into their hotel using a VISA. They simply asked them for the names of the last 5 people that checked into the hotel using a VISA.
I ranted like a madman to the girls and told them that being from the northeast I was aware of scams but the other 4 hayseeds that got their names given out are probably being wiped out as we are speaking and if I were you I would put a hold on all incoming phone calls to their rooms then quit. 100% true story