How many do you know off the top of your head?
Area codes and numbers that are probably spam
Whew, the election’s over. The onslaught of robocalls and texts is over, too … right? Nope.
There are fewer political calls and messages, sure, but there are always scammers and spammers. It may be easier for these creeps to get a hold of us now that our phones aren’t constantly lighting up with election-related notifications.
Today, I’m sharing how to spot scammers faster and the privacy tool I used to cut my spam calls to zero. That’s right — I get none at all.
If you see these, don’t answer
It’s surprisingly easy to spoof phone numbers. A scammer can make it look like they’re calling from your bank or doctor’s office so you’re more likely to hand over your info.
Here’s what they definitely don’t want me to tell you: They spoof numbers from some area codes more than others. If you get a call from one of these area codes and you don’t recognize the number, let it go to voicemail:
- 216: Cleveland, Ohio
- 469: Dallas, Texas
- 657: La Palma, California
- 332, 347, 646: New York City
- 218: Northern Minnesota
- 712: Western Iowa
‘Any specific numbers I should watch for?’
Glad you asked. Certain spam numbers can get past your carrier. Give these a read so you’re better at spotting cybercriminals’ tricks:
- (865) 630-4266: This one’s tied to a Wells Fargo scam telling you your account has been locked.
- (469) 709-7630: Callers from this number will use your name and say you have a package awaiting delivery.
- (805) 637-7243: Hooray! You won a prize from Publishers Clearing House … not.
- (858) 605-9622: Someone’s trying to tell you your bank accounts have been hacked. (They haven’t.)
- (312) 339-1227: This one has a ton of scams associated with it, from weight loss supplements to failed package delivery attempts.
- (917) 540-7996: It’s an automated robocaller advertising any number of products.
- (347) 437-1689: Tax and sweepstakes scams are common for this number.
- (301) 307-4601: This one pretends to be your local post office.
- (878) 877-1402: More “frozen debit card” claims.
- (202) 221-7923: “Kelsey” calls with info about student loan forgiveness initiatives.
So, what can you do about this?
- The obvious one: Put yourself on the Do Not Call Registry. It’s worth doing, but just keep in mind it’ll only make a dent in the number of calls you receive … or have no impact at all.
- Block numbers: On an iPhone, you can block a caller by hitting the Info button (lowercase i icon) next to the call, then tapping Block this Caller. On Android, select the call in your Phone app, tap the three dots > Block/report spam. Blocking a number, though, doesn’t do much; spammers will just fire up a new one.
- Report it to the feds: Go to ftc.gov. Select Report to the FTC > Report Now > Report an annoying call. Maybe they’ll check it out … or maybe not.
I wasted 36 hours trying to do it myself
So many of the calls, emails, messages and DMs I get are about privacy and security. I can’t remember the last time I had a full day where no one asked me some version of “How do I get all this info about me off the internet?”
10 tech company customer service phone numbers plus a secret way to know wait times
Everything but your autograph: Ticketmaster was hacked, with cyber thieves snagging 500 million customer details. That includes names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, financial details and full order histories, now up for sale on a sketchy dark web forum for a cool $500,000. Get ready for a spam influx, and be extra cautious of what links you click from an email or text.
So much data left exposed for anyone to see
Another day, another monumental data breach. Just because they’re getting more common doesn’t mean you can tune it out. In fact, it’s time to get even more serious about your private information and what’s posted online.
10 tech company customer service phone numbers plus a secret way to know wait times
If the long wait times and hard-to-find numbers don’t make it clear enough, I’ll say it: Tech companies don’t want to talk to you.
Here’s a secret I bet you didn’t know. You can have Amazon call you if you have a problem with an order or anything else. Tap or click here for the secret spot on Amazon’s website.
A Dell, rolling in the deep: A new data breach affects up to 49 million Dell customers. Names, physical addresses, Dell hardware and order information all were swiped. Good news: Financial deets, emails and phone numbers are safe. Stay alert for phishing scams and suspicious mail now that scammers know where you live.
Stop sharing your real phone number with everyone
How many people and companies have your phone number if you had to guess? Maybe a hundred? Think again.
Want to be shocked? Your cellphone and landline number (if you still have one) are probably posted online where I found mine — at a people search site that doesn’t cost a dime. Tap or click here for sites that let you search for phone numbers.
The one word you should never say to a telemarketer or scam caller
You might get dozens of spam calls weekly, but you might not know where the companies got your number. Thousands of data brokers peddle information, and it could be the source of your annoyance. That’s why we started our Opt-Out Tuesday series with instructions on removing data from sites like FreePhoneTracer. Tap or click here for details.
Opt-Out Tuesday: How to remove your info from Radaris
People search sites have been around for a while. They provide information on more than just phone numbers. You can find public records on anyone without having much to go on but their name. That’s what makes them so scary.
If you see one of these area codes don't answer — It's probably a scam
Email and text messages from scammers usually show signs that you’re dealing with a crook. There are spelling errors, threats to act now and suspicious links. It’s not always so easy to tell when a phone call is coming from a scammer, but we’re here to help. Tap or click here for five surefire phrases that you’re talking to a scammer on the phone.
7 things to never search for on Google
You might consider yourself a tech-savvy individual who would never fall for an online scam. You regularly mark suspicious email messages as spam, and you never click anything that doesn’t seem legitimate.
Who do you think is the most vulnerable to online scams? Tap or click here to find out which age group keeps falling for them.
Save on your monthly phone bill with these apps for calling and texting
Can apps for making calls and sending texts save you money? You might be surprised. Tap or click here for ways to save money on your phone bill – and maybe even get free service.
They offer convenience and service without the excessive mark-up. The only question: which texting app should you use?
Need to talk to a real person? 10 hard-to-find tech support phone numbers
Not all companies make it easy to find support phone numbers on their sites. They want you to fill out a form or use the chat function, but sometimes you might really need to speak to someone.
Want to contact one of the biggest retailers on the planet by phone? Amazon doesn’t openly advertise its phone number and prefers you go through other forms such as a chat window in your Amazon account. Do you still want to make that phone call? Tap or click here for more.
Trick to avoid annoying callers: Assign a silent ringtone
When you do a lot of work on your phone, spam callers can be the bane of your existence. You’ll be in the zone, working hard and expecting a business call when the phone rings. When you pick it up, a robot says, “Hello. We’re calling to talk to you about your car’s extended warranty.”
Data leak: Details on billions of Facebook and Clubhouse users shared online
It’s a sad day for folks who use Facebook and Clubhouse. A new data breach could mean your private details are exposed for all the world to see. Researchers say a hacker is trying to sell a database of 3.8 billion phone numbers from both sites for $100,000.
Have a Windows PC? Don't fall for this bogus Windows Defender charge
Online scams come in all forms, including phony links, apps, files, phone numbers and websites. Scammers reach out to victims via phone, email and text message. It’s not always easy to spot a scam, but there are signs you can look out for.
5 ways to block or hide your number when making calls
Robocalls have been an annoyance for years, and with technology constantly advancing, it’s only going to get worse. And they’re not just interruptions these days. Many are calls from scammers looking to rip you off.
That’s why it’s important to be proactive and stop these calls dead in their tracks. You have several clever ways to keep scams and robocalls at bay. Tap or click here to stop robocalls for good. How are these callers getting ahold of your number in the first place?
One ring and then they hung up? It's a sneaky scam that could cost you
An old phone scam is making a serious comeback. It happens in the middle of the night and your smartphone rings just once. You wake up and your heart is pounding because calls in the dead of night usually mean bad news. You grab your phone and see a number from the African nation of Mauritania. Or you just see a number you can’t recognize.