Five Area Codes You Should Never Answer To Avoid Getting Scammed

Scam calls are a growing menace, with many worldwide losing billions to phone fraud yearly. While scammers use various tactics, one common method is exploiting certain area codes known for high fraud rates. Ideally, there are at least five area codes you should never answer to avoid getting scammed.

Scammers often use specific area codes to perform their scams because they can easily fake international area codes on caller IDs. Many area codes used for scams are from small Caribbean nations.

Scammers take advantage of US authorities' difficulty in prosecuting crimes from these countries. Also, the combination of spoofable international area codes, robocalling, and premium-rate callback numbers makes it easy for scammers to perpetrate phone fraud on a large scale.

Five area codes you should never answer

Scammers can easily spoof or fake caller ID information to make calls appear to be coming from legitimate area codes, even if the calls originate from other countries. However, this is a list of area codes not to answer whenever you see them on your caller ID:

1. 876 area code (Jamaica)

The 876 area code serves Jamaica and has become infamous for associating with various phone scams.

One prevalent scheme is the one-ring scam, where scammers use autodialers to call random numbers and hang up after one ring, hoping the recipient will call back out of curiosity. If you return the call, you will be connected to a premium-rate number that can cost you up to $50 per minute.

Another common 876 scam is the ring-and-run, in which the caller claims there is an emergency involving a friend or relative and asks you to call a number or send money. Of course, the emergency is fake, and the number leads to a high-cost line.

Jamaican scammers also frequently target job seekers with fraudulent work-from-home offers. They may ask you to pay an upfront fee or provide personal information, which they then use for identity theft or to steal money. Therefore, 876 should be among the area codes you should avoid.

2. 809, 829, and 849 area codes (Dominican Republic)

The Dominican Republic's area codes, 809, 829, and 849, are associated with various scams and area codes that spammers use to steal money from unsuspecting victims.

Scammers use these area codes to make calls that appear to be domestic but originate from the Dominican Republic. Like the 876 area code, the 809 code is often used in one-ring scams.

Scammers also use these numbers in advance fee schemes, where they promise a prize or opportunity but demand payment of a fee before delivering the promised reward.

Once the victim pays the advance fee, the promised benefit is never delivered, and the perpetrator disappears with the victim's money. Common examples include offers of lottery winnings, investment opportunities, loans, or other financial services that require an advance payment.

Scammers also use these area codes to impersonate authorities like collection agencies, law enforcement, or medical professionals and try to get the recipient to call back a number that will result in high charges.

3. 649 area code (Turks and Caicos Islands)

The 649 area code serves the Turks and Caicos Islands and is another hotspot for one-ring scams. Scammers use this number to call random US phone numbers and hang up after one ring, hoping to lure victims into calling back and getting charged exorbitant fees.

Vishing scams are also common with this area code. Scammers may use the 649 area code in vishing scams to obtain sensitive information like credit card numbers or passwords over the phone by posing as a legitimate organisation.

A scammer calls a victim, claiming to be from the victim's bank. They say there has been suspicious activity on the victim's account, and they need to verify their identity by asking for their account number, PIN, and other personal details.

If the victim provides the requested information, the scammer can use it to steal money from the victim's account or commit identity theft. Scammers often use fear tactics and claim there is an urgent problem to pressure victims into complying without thinking it through.

Calls from the 649 area code may be part of a scam where the caller tries to get the recipient to send money, provide personal information, or perform malicious actions.

4. 473 area code (Grenada)

The 473 area code, which covers Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique, has been linked to a type of telephone fraud known as the one-ring scam or 473 scams. Scam callers use this number to target unsuspecting victims and trick them into calling back, resulting in hefty charges on their phone bills.

The scammers often use spoofed caller IDs to make the number appear domestic when it is an international call to the 473 area code, which is not typically included in standard calling plans.

5. 268 area code (Antigua and Barbuda)

The 268 area code, which serves Antigua and Barbuda, is another area code to avoid. Like the other Caribbean area codes on this list, 268 is frequently used in one-ring scams. Scammers use this number in other schemes, such as advance fee fraud and fake job offers.

Fake job offer scams often work through unsolicited phone calls from fraudsters impersonating legitimate recruiters or employers. The scammers aim to trick job seekers into sharing personal information or paying fees under the guise of a job opportunity.

The scammer will call candidates and claim to be from a real company or recruiting agency, using the names and details of actual employees. They will then offer vague job descriptions, pressuring candidates to accept the opportunity quickly without verifying qualifications.

How to protect yourself from scam calls

You can avoid falling victim to phone scams or answering phone calls from the above area codes with scammers by doing the following:

• Avoid answering calls from unfamiliar numbers, especially those with the abovementioned area codes.
• If you do answer a call and hear a recorded message asking you to call a number, hang up immediately. It is likely a scam.
• Before calling back an unfamiliar number, check the area code. If it is one of the high-risk codes listed above, it is best to avoid the call altogether.
• If you receive a call claiming an emergency involving a friend or relative, contact that person using a known, trusted number to verify the claim.
• Be wary of unsolicited job offers or prize notifications, especially those that require you to pay a fee or provide personal information upfront.
• Consider signing up for a robocall-blocking service or using a call-screening app to reduce the number of scam calls you receive.

If you believe you have been the victim of a phone scam, report it to your local law enforcement agency.

Wrapping up

Scam calls are a persistent problem, but by being aware of the five area codes you should never answer and following simple precautions, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim. The common area codes you should avoid include 876, 809, 829, 849, 649, 473, and 268.

Tuko.co.ke published an article about scary clown numbers that you should never think of calling. Clown numbers have captured public interest due to the eerie tales associated with them.

Individuals who have dialled these numbers report having unsettling experiences during their calls, including hearing disturbing voices, receiving frightening messages, and even encountering sinister clowns afterwards.