Is This Number Safe? Common Scammer Area Codes and Phone Numbers to Watch Out For

Nowadays, it’s fairly safe to assume any number you don’t recognize is some type of scam, spam, or wrong number. But it’s not necessarily always the case. Occasionally, numbers we don’t recognize are calling for legitimate reasons, like a doctor following up, a mechanic letting you know your car is ready, and any of the many other situations where you’ll want to answer the phone, even if you aren’t sure who’s calling.

The problem is, how are you supposed to know? Well, certain things can help you identify if a call is safe to answer. Here, we’ll cover some tips and tricks to help you tell the difference between a scammer and a legitimate caller so you don’t have to look at a number and wonder.

8 Domestic Scammer Area Codes You Should Never Answer

For whatever reason, many of the numbers used by scammers share the same set of area codes, potentially giving you a heads up not to answer. Unless you’re from one of these locations or often deal with real calls from these locations, seeing an incoming call from one of the following area codes is usually a good sign you can hit ignore (worst case, a real caller leaves a voicemail anyway):

• 216: Cleveland, OH
• 218: Northern Minnesota
• 332, 347, 646: New York City, NY
• 469: Dallas, TX
• 657: La Palma, CA
• 712: Western Iowa

11 International Scammer Area Codes You Should Never Answer

Although most scam calls come from outside the U.S., number spoofing is so easily accessible that you won’t often see a country code attached to a call — if you do, however, your best bet is to assume it’s a scam, unless you’re expecting a call from overseas. The tricky part is when scammers use three-digit international area codes that resemble U.S. area codes (often part of what is known as a “one ring” scam, which we’ll cover below) and share a country code of +1 with the United States.

• 232: Sierra Leone
• 268: Antigua and Barbuda
• 284: British Virgin Islands
• 473: Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique
• 649: Turks and Caicos Islands
• 664: Montserrat
• 767: Commonwealth of Dominica
• 809, 829, 849: Dominican Republic
• 876: Jamaica

“One Ring” Phone Scams

The premise of a one-ring scam, according to the FCC, is that scammers will use international numbers that resemble domestic numbers to automatically call and then instantly hang up (thus the “one ring” moniker). They might use the number to call multiple times, but no voicemail, with the hope that victims will be curious enough to call back and see what the fuss is all about. Little do they know, even a short amount of time on the phone can result in exorbitant fees that are set up to go fully or in part to the scammers.

11 Scam Phone Numbers to Block

Because scammers can use almost any number they want, blocking scam calls is sort of like a game of whack-a-mole, where new numbers will continue to pop up. Still, there are certain numbers that have been solidly identified as scam numbers that are continually used. Numbers you’ll want to ignore (or better yet, block) include the following list:

• (202) 221-7923: Associated with student loan forgiveness scams.
• (301) 307-4601: Associated with USPS delivery scams.
• (312) 339-1227: Associated with both weight loss and package tracking scams.
• (347) 437-1689: Associated with both tax scams and a free Dyson vacuum scam.
• (469) 709-7630: Associated with a failed delivery attempt scam that uses yours or a family member's name.
• (865) 630-4266: Associated with a Wells Fargo temporarily locked account scam.
• (805) 637-7243: Associated with the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes scam.
• (858) 605-9622: Associated with bank account on temporary hold scams.
• (863) 532-7969: Associated with scams alerting to debit cards being frozen.
• (878) 877-1402: Associated with frozen debit cards scams involving higher levels of personalization than average.
• (904) 495-2559: Associated with an AT&T raffle scam.

Other Scam Phone Number Signs

Blocking the numbers and looking for the area codes listed above is a good first step in dodging would-be scam calls, but there are more signs you’ll want to keep a lookout for. One of the most common is something known as “neighbor spoofing,” where scammers call you from numbers that are very similar to your own. They do this because people are more likely to trust a number they’ve seen before, and what better numbers than those similar to the victims. If you see a call that looks close to your number, you’re safe to assume it’s a scam.

Your Best Tool to Determine if a Number is Safe 

The unfortunate reality is that you should be wary of any calls from numbers you don’t know. With increased access to new technologies, scammers are able to switch the script much faster than in days past, making it much harder to track how they contact you. Between texts, emails, dating apps, social media, and, of course, phone calls, scammers have plenty of ways to approach you. But, there is something that can  help you stay ahead of scammers—people search tools. 

Tools like PeopleWin allow you to enter any phone number, email address, address, or name, and find out who exactly you’re dealing with. This includes all sorts of public information, including social media accounts, so that you can verify A. there’s a real person behind the number calling you, and B. that person likely isn’t a scammer. Even if the number is associated with a real person, you may be able to see complaints against a phone number that can help tip you off to any suspicious activity (which can be the case when scammers are spoofing an unfortunate victim’s phone number).

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I check if a phone number is safe?

If you don’t recognize the number calling you, your best option is to run the number through a reverse phone lookup tool like PeopleWin. 

Should I answer an unknown number?

Generally, it’s best not to answer a number you don’t recognize. If they are a legitimate caller, they’ll leave you a voicemail. If you are expecting a call from someone, but don’t have their number saved, you might want to answer, but you should hang up as soon as you realize they aren’t who you expected (no matter how compelling they sound). 

Are toll-free numbers scams?

Businesses and organizations often use toll-free numbers such as 800, 877, and 888, and are generally considered legitimate. That said, it’s not difficult to obtain a toll-free number, so you’re best off ignoring these calls or practicing caution when answering.

Cyrus Grant is a writer from Southern California with a background in law and dispute resolution. When he isn’t writing he can be found deep-diving into the latest technology trends or simply spending time at the beach.