Five Area Codes You Should Never Answer

Scam calls are not just annoying; they pose real threats, aiming to steal your personal information or trick you into sending money. Understanding the common types can help you stay protected.

1. Lottery or Prize Scams: Callers inform you that you’ve won a lottery or prize but need to pay a fee or provide personal details to claim it. Remember that legitimate lotteries do not ask winners to pay fees upfront.

2. IRS or Government Impersonation: Callers pretending to be from the IRS or other government agencies threaten legal action to collect taxes or debts. The real IRS first contacts people by mail, not by phone.

3. Tech Support Frauds: Scammers claim to be tech support from well-known companies, alleging your computer has a virus. Their goal is to get remote access to your computer or sell worthless software.

4. Bank or Credit Card Company Impostors: These fraudsters pose as your bank or credit card issuer, claiming there’s a problem with your account. They ask for your account details or personal identification numbers.

5. Charity Scams: Especially common after natural disasters, callers ask for donations to fake charities. Before donating, verify the charity’s legitimacy through a trusted third-party site.
 

Five area codes in the United States are often linked to scam calls. Below is the list of area codes not to answer.

Area code 876 is infamous for its association with the Jamaican Lottery Scam. Scammers use the 876 area code to deceive you by convincing you that you’ve won a lottery. However, to claim the supposed winnings, they trap you first into paying taxes or fees. Many people, unfortunately, send money, only to find there is no prize.

The area code 555, traditionally seen in movies and TV shows as a fictional code, has occasionally been exploited by scammers in real-life scenarios. While it’s not a common source of fraud, there are instances where it has been used in phishing. The scammers’ goal is to misuse the legitimacy of the 555 prefix to extract your personal information.

Area code 901 from Memphis, Tennesse, has been seen in various fraudulent activities, from fake charity collections to illegitimate debt collection threats. Scammers exploit the trust and fear of individuals, manipulating them into providing sensitive personal information or making unwarranted payments.

Area code 809 from the Dominican Republic is infamous for the callback scam. You’ll typically receive missed calls from an 809 phone number, and upon returning the call, they’ll charge you a hefty cost. It is a very tricky scam as you may not realize the financial implications until receiving your phone bills. The scammers have significant profit from the inflated charges.

Area code 473, associated with Grenada, is also used in scams that encourage recipients to return missed calls. Like the 809 phone number scam, callers find themselves facing high charges for international calls. The scammer’s strategy relies on curiosity or concern prompting the callback, leading to hefty fees.

You should never answer calls from these area codes: 876, 555, 901, 809, and 473. When you receive calls from potential scam area codes, with an unknown number, simply do not pick up or call back.

Scam calls threaten your money and personal information. Being aware of the common types of scams and the area codes frequently associated with them helps you safeguard yourself against these deceptive practices. Calilio offers a robust solution to protect you from scam calls. Our advanced business phone system has features such as call blocking and caller ID, which help you screen incoming calls effectively. Sign up to Calilio to defend against scam calls and maintain your focus on what truly matters.

Avoid area codes known for scams, such as 876, 555, 901, 809, and 473. These have been linked to various frauds and callback scams.

Suspicious area codes often involve those frequently used in callback scams, including but not limited to 876 (Jamaica), 809 (Dominican Republic), and 473 (Grenada).

Spam calls can come from any area code but are commonly from 876, 555, 901, 809, and 473 due to their association with known scams.

Spoofed area codes are when scammers falsify the caller ID to appear as if they are calling from a local or familiar area code to deceive the recipient into answering.

Look for red flags like unexpected calls from unknown numbers, especially from high-risk area codes, requests for personal information, or calls claiming you’ve won a prize.

Use online reverse phone lookup services, check community feedback on numbers, or use spam identification apps.

Spam callers often use local area codes through caller ID spoofing to make it seem like the call is coming from a local number, increasing the likelihood of the call being answered.

Calling back a spam number, especially those associated with the callback scam, can lead to high charges on your phone bill due to inflated per-minute rates for international calls.