Scam call numbers to block in 2026

Phone calls continue to be a popular contact method for criminals trying to scam victims out of sensitive information or money. A recent Pew Research survey showed that 68% of Americans receive scam calls weekly, and 31% get contacted daily by phone scammers.

But scam and spam calls are more than just annoying — they can also expose you to sophisticated schemes that target your identity or finances. According to a report from The Public Interest Network, individuals targeted by scam calls in the first half of 2025 lost an average of $3,690.

But knowing how to identify and block scam call numbers can help you avoid becoming a victim. This first involves familiarizing yourself with common scam phone numbers then learning how to detect and avoid suspicious calls.

List of scammer numbers

Scam calls can come from anywhere, making it hard to know if what appears in your caller ID is a scammer’s phone number or not. But there are some specific numbers associated with scam calls and other trends scammy numbers tend to follow, both of which can help you spot suspicious calls.

While the list of scammer phone numbers and area codes below is by no means comprehensive, you can use it to help gauge whether a call you’ve received was a scam or not.

Most frequently used scam call numbers

According to reports by BeenVerified and ReversePhone.com, these are the phone numbers most commonly associated with phone scams and smishing text messages:

• (202) 221-7923: This number is linked to student loan forgiveness scams that warn of a fake payment deadline, creating a false sense of urgency.
• (301) 307-4601: This number is associated with USPS scam texts that claim there was a delivery issue.
• (312) 339-1227: This number has been linked to both delivery scams and scams promoting fake weight loss products.
• (347) 437-1689: This number has been connected to tax scams that trick recipients into clicking malicious links.
• (469) 709-7630: Scammers use this phone number to impersonate delivery services, claiming they couldn’t deliver a package. This prompts recipients to take action to resolve the issue.
• (805) 637-7243: This number is associated with Publisher’s Clearing House scams and calls impersonating Visa’s fraud department.
• (858) 605-9622: Scammers use this phone number to send fake bank text messages that claim your account is on hold.
• (863) 532-7969: Recipients report that this number claimed their debit card was frozen, prompting them to reveal sensitive information to unfreeze it.
• (865) 630-4266: This phone number is linked to bank scams impersonating Wells Fargo. The scammers claim that an account is locked and urge their potential victims to call back immediately.
• (878) 877-1402: Recipients report that a scammer at this number attempted to get them to reveal their PIN by posing as a credit card issuer.
• (904) 495-2559: Scammers use this number to claim that their targets won a fake AT&T raffle.
• (763) 274-3899: This number has been reported by Reddit users as scammers posing as United Healthcare staff following up on insurance claims.
• (859) 756-4455: According to Robokiller, this number is linked to scam texts impersonating Donald Trump.
• (978) 358-1086: This number is associated with Auto Trader scams.
• (210) 306-9054: This number is also associated with Auto Trader scams.
• (202) 456-1111: This is the official White House number, which is often spoofed by scammers.
• (662) 255-3743: This is the number that shows up sometimes when a caller uses *67. The number directly translates to NOCALLERID.
• (325) 244-7821: A consensus on the subreddit r/ScamNumbers associates this number with scammers launching payday loan scams.
• (512) 866-7300: Scammers use this number to impersonate Indeed, calling about fake jobs.
• (210) 444-2942: According to NumberGuru, scammers use this number to impersonate debt collectors.

But remember, scammers spoof and rotate numbers constantly so a number that doesn’t appear on this list may still be part of a scam.

Scam call numbers by area code

Although scammers can call from anywhere in the world, some area and country codes have a reputation for being more closely associated with scam calls. Knowing these codes can help you recognize and avoid potential phone scams.

Here are some country codes that are sometimes linked to scam call schemes:

• +7: Russia
• +91: India
• +92: Pakistan
• +232: Sierra Leone
• +234: Nigeria
• +257: Burundi
• +265: Malawi
• +355: Albania
• +375: Belarus
• +1 242: Bahamas
• +1 268: Antigua and Barbuda
• +1 284: British Virgin Islands
• +1 441: Bermuda
• +1 473: Grenada
• +1 649: Turks and Caicos
• +1 664: Montserrat
• +1 721: St. Maarten
• +1 758: St. Lucia
• +1 767: Dominica
• +1 784: St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• +1 809, +1 829, +1 849: Dominican Republic
• +1 868: Trinidad and Tobago
• +1 869: St. Kitts and Nevis
• +1 876: Jamaica

However, not all scam calls come from abroad, and even scammers who are calling from other countries can spoof their numbers so they appear to have a United States area code.

Here are some U.S. area codes that are often associated with phone scams:

• (214), (469), (972): Dallas, Texas
• (216): Cleveland, Ohio
• (218): Duluth, Minnesota
• (332), (347), (646): New York City, New York
• (657): Anaheim, California
• (712): Sioux City, Iowa
• (202): Washington, D.C.

How to identify scam numbers

While familiarizing yourself with common numbers scammers use is helpful, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to memorize them all. Instead, follow these simple tips to help identify phone scams and protect against identity theft in the future.

1. Check the caller ID

The caller ID features offered by cell phone carriers — like Verizon’s Call Filter and AT&T’s ActiveArmor — can help flag potential scam calls. These carriers draw from extensive databases of known scam call numbers to automatically apply a label to suspicious incoming calls.

Verizon labels them “Potential Spam,” while other providers may use different phrases, like “Scam Likely” and “Potential Fraud.” Generally, it’s best not to answer a call with any of these labels. If it’s a genuine caller, they’re likely to leave a voicemail or try again later.

Many smartphones also offer enhanced caller ID features. Most Android phones, for example, benefit from a spam protection filter that’s activated by default. Apple also makes it easy to block or avoid unwanted calls on iPhones.

2. Note the area code

If you receive a call from a number with a country or area code you have no ties to, it might be a scam or spam call you can safely ignore. Although it’s possible that it’s a legitimate call from a service provider or business, genuine callers who need to reach you can always leave a voicemail or contact you another way.

With that said, it’s also important to stay cautious of local and familiar numbers. Scammers can use a technique called phone number spoofing to route their calls through a number with a specific area code or caller ID information, making it look like they’re calling from a local number or even a specific company you trust.

3. Look up the number online

If you’re unsure whether a number is legitimate, try searching it online. Websites like Truecaller, Scammer Info, and the subreddit /r/ScamNumbers let users report numbers they’ve received scam calls from. If other people have flagged the number calling you, it should show up in search results.

If you answer a call from someone claiming to be from a specific business or government agency, look up the official contact number on their website to verify they’re telling the truth. But remember, fraudsters can also manipulate the caller ID information to appear trustworthy. If you have any doubts, you can always hang up then call the number on the official website to confirm if the previous caller was genuine.

How do scam calls lead to identity theft?

Scam callers usually have one main goal: to trick you into giving them personally identifiable information and account credentials. Scammers can then use the stolen personal data to build an identity profile on you, which can lead to identity theft like taking over your accounts or applying for credit or other services in your name.

Often, scammers pose as trusted entities, such as a healthcare company, the police, or a bank. Then they hit you with an urgent request, like, "We need to verify your account information or your checking account will be closed." Once they have you on the hook and in a panic, they can use the information you provide to do things like impersonate you, steal your money, and make fraudulent purchases.

For example, in 2024, the FTC warned about toll scams that launched texts claiming victims had unpaid tolls. When victims clicked the link, it directed them to a website that collected information, including their driver's license number and credit card details. And recently, the NYPD sent out an alert about scammers impersonating NYPD officers and calling residents to collect their personal information.

How to stop scam calls

The best way to avoid being scammed is to try and prevent scam calls from reaching you in the first place. Here are some tips you can use to help combat scam callers.

• Don’t answer the phone: If you suspect an incoming call is a scam or spam call, don’t pick up and instead wait for it to go to voicemail.
• Send callers directly to voicemail: Use Silence Unknown Numbers on iPhones or adjust Caller ID & Spam filters on Android phones.
• Block known scam numbers: If you verify that a specific phone number is owned by a scammer, block it directly from your phone app.
• Download a call-blocking app: Apps like Truecaller, Hiya, and RoboKiller detect scam calls and automatically block or send them to voicemail.
• Talk to your carrier: Many carriers, such as T-Mobile and AT&T, offer their own dedicated call blocking apps that can automatically screen and block incoming calls.
• Join the Do Not Call Registry: Adding your number to the Do Not Call Registry helps reduce the number of unwanted calls you receive from legitimate companies, like telemarketers.
• Report scam calls to the FTC: By filing a report after you get a scam call, you can help the FTC track down the scammer and get the number added to the blocking lists phone companies use.
• Avoid sharing your number where possible: Keeping your phone number more private can help reduce the risk that it’s exposed in data breaches or hacking incidents, when a potential scammer might get hold of it.

What to do if you answer a scam call

Remember that caller ID can be spoofed to make it look like the call is from a government agency or local number, so it’s not always possible to identify a scam call before you answer. But, if you do accidentally answer a scam call, don’t panic. Here’s what to do:

• Don’t share personal information: Never provide personally identifiable information like your Social Security number, credit card number, or passport number on an unsolicited call. Scammers sometimes start the call with questions like, “Can I just confirm we’re speaking with [name]? Can you please quickly confirm your birthdate and SSN?” Don’t take the bait.
• Hang up immediately: As soon as you realize that you’re on the phone with a scammer, hang up. If you do suspect the call may be genuine but you’re not comfortable giving personal information, hang up anyway and call the customer number listed on one of the company’s official channels.
• Block the number: After you hang up on a suspected scam caller, block the number to avoid receiving additional calls from them.
• Monitor your credit: If you accidentally share personal information with a potential scammer, monitor your credit and financial accounts, freeze your credit with the bureaus, and look out for potential signs of identity theft.
• Contact your bank: If you shared card or banking details, call your bank or credit card company immediately to lock your accounts and request replacement cards.
• Report the scam: If a scam financially impacted you, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Help protect your identity from scam callers

Knowing how to identify scam calls when they reach you is essential, but avoiding them is even better. With LifeLock, you can monitor online exposure of your personal information, including your phone number, and take steps to reduce your vulnerability to scam callers, like using the Automatic Data Broker Removal feature to opt out of websites that might broadcast your number.

LifeLock also offers a range of powerful scam support and identity theft protection features, including credit monitoring, alerts for fraudulent use of your Social Security number, and scam reimbursement coverage, protecting against key risks you might be exposed to after falling for a scam.

FAQs

How do scammers spoof phone numbers?

Most scammers spoof phone numbers using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, which allow them to change the number or name that appears on a caller ID so that it looks more trustworthy or legitimate.

Why do I keep getting scam calls?

If you receive a high volume of scam calls, it may be because you answered a scam call in the past, which alerted the scammer that your number is active. This can prompt the scammer to sell your number on the dark web, further compromising your privacy.

Where can I report scam phone numbers?

You can report scam phone numbers to the FTC by visiting reportfraud.ftc.gov or dialing (877) FTC-HELP.

Can a scammer get into your phone from a call?

It’s unlikely someone can directly hack your phone simply by calling you. However, “SIM swapping” and “port-out fraud” schemes often involve phone calls that aim to gather information from you that can later be used to hack your phone or steal your number.