Scammer phone numbers: How to identify and avoid them

What are scammer phone numbers?

Scammer phone numbers are numbers scammers use to approach their victims. They can be a typical unknown phone number or spoofed from another person, or have an altered VoIP caller ID to look similar to those from reputable companies, such as banks or government agencies.

Upon answering a call from such a number, you’ll most likely be greeted by a “bank representative” or a “police officer” who will bombard you with a story about a breached bank account, lottery winnings, or another scenario that requires immediate reaction. While these situations may vary greatly, they always end with requests to wire money or provide sensitive information (such as a Social Security number or bank account codes).

Needless to say, fantastic stories and requests for money are a sure sign of a scam call. However, you can sometimes sniff out a scam call just by looking at the caller’s area code.

What are the most common scam area codes?

Most scammers may take time and effort to hide their true area code to make it look like it’s coming from a specific location. However, some scam callers may not bother with that, doing you a huge favor by helping you decide whether to answer the phone.

Here are the most common area codes that scammers may use to contact US citizens:

Since we’re at it, here are a few US area codes popular among phone scammers:

How to identify a scammer number

While knowing the most common scam area codes can help mitigate your chances of falling for a scam call, it’s not a bulletproof solution. Scammers are smart and always look for new ways to trick people into picking up the phone, including spoofing numbers of reliable service providers and posing as trustworthy entities. So, what can you do to protect yourself?

If you’re unsure whether the unknown number is legit, you can always try to look it up online (for example, by typing it in the Google search bar). Some online services provide information on specific phone numbers, along with anonymous reviews describing whether the call was legit and what the conversation was about.

Another tip that can help you identify recurring scam calls is changing the unknown caller ID based on their services or content. That way, you won’t have to second guess when you see “lottery scammer,” “veteran donations,” or “Verizon sales rep” on your phone screen.

What to do if you accidentally answer a scammer’s phone call

Unless you’re a part of the generation that doesn’t recognize phone calls as a form of communication, you’ll inevitably answer a scammer’s phone call at some point. When that happens, here’s what you should remember to avoid getting duped:

• Don’t give away personal information. Legitimate callers will never ask you to provide sensitive information (such as a Social Security number or bank account password), so if you receive such a request, hang up immediately.
• Remain calm. Scammers will try to induce panic to prevent you from thinking clearly. So if the caller pressures you to act fast (for example, claiming that your bank account has been hacked and you need to provide your account password ASAP to recover it), do not give in. Remember, double-checking is as important as acting quickly in cases of serious financial crime, so consider contacting the bank (or other authorities) to confirm whether you have a reason to worry.
• Don’t call the number back. Why would you do that anyway? Instead, block the scammer’s phone number and be wary of calls from numbers with international area codes. Remember that some scammers might use US area codes, too.
• Report the scam to the authorities. Contact the police or other authorities and report the scammer’s number to prevent others from getting scammed. If you’re a US citizen, you can also use the website Reportfraud.ftc.gov to report suspicious callers.

How to protect yourself from scam phone calls

Protecting yourself from phone scams is simple if you take the time to learn the methods and tactics scammers use to trick people. In addition, taking some safety precautions can further safeguard you from becoming a victim of a scammer call.

Enable features that block scammer numbers from your phone

Most mobile phones allow you to block contacts by including unwanted phone numbers in a blocked contact list. So if someone you know has suffered a phone scam attempt (such as a one ring scam), you can type the scam phone number into your blocked contact list to prevent scammers from being able to contact you. Or wait for scammers to reach out and block the number after the call.

Ask your phone carrier about scam number-blocking services

Similar to your phone, your carrier can block unwanted phone numbers from reaching you. To enable this service, you might need to contact your carrier (although some service providers allow online requests) and provide cell numbers that you want to block.

Add your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry

Finally, if you live in the US, you can add your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry. This registry informs telemarketers what numbers to avoid. However, it doesn’t block spam calls. While that means the registry will not protect you from these calls, it can still be a useful tool to limit the number of unwanted calls you receive.

FAQ

How can I report a phone scam?

To report a phone scam, contact the Federal Trade Commission (if you’re a US citizen) or other responsible authority (such as Action Fraud in the UK or Scamwatch in Australia). If you’re unsure which institution to contact, call the local police and ask for assistance.

What happens if I call a scammer back?

If you call the scammer back, you put yourself on their radar for future attacks. Engagement with the scammer creates the belief that you can eventually be tricked, meaning that the scammer will continue to attack you until they get what they want.

Can scammer phone numbers be traced?

While technically it might be possible to track down scammer phone numbers, it’s extremely difficult to do so. Scammers are smart and take extra precautions to cover their tracks, so it’s unlikely that you’ll find their numbers through online phone lookup services or other tools that share public records.