What scam numbers do fraudsters use and where do they call from?

Is it possible to spot a scammer from just a number? 

Sometimes you can, but it’s safer to assume the number is only one clue. Caller ID labels from your phone company and call labeling solutions can help — “Scam Likely,” “Spam Risk,” and the increasingly common potential spam numbers tags are based on network analysis and complaint data — yet no filter is perfect. T-Mobile, for instance, explains that its network analyzes calls and texts with machine learning to flag dangerous traffic, and it also blocks high-risk calls before they hit your phone. Still, scammers spoof names and telephone numbers, including banks and government agencies, so the absence of a warning label doesn’t necessarily mean a call is legitimate.

Scam numbers that are known to be used in fraud

Caller ID can be spoofed and any number can be misused, but the entries below are repeatedly reported in consumer complaint round-ups (notably BeenVerified’s “Dirty Dozen”). Treat them as signals to pause and verify — especially when the pitch coming from the other end matches delivery-text smishing or the patterns we break down in our explanation of types of phishing. 

Take a look at the most commonly flagged numbers right now, and use them as a quick “do not engage” checklist before you click a link or call back.

• (865) 630-4266 — texts claiming your Wells Fargo debit card is locked. Links or callbacks lead to credential harvesting.
• (469) 709-7630 — “failed delivery attempt” messages urging you to reschedule or track a package (classic delivery smishing).
• (805) 637-7243 — imposters posing as Publisher’s Clearing House or a card issuer’s “fraud team,” steering you into “verification” or fees.
• (858) 605-9622 — “your bank account is on hold” alerts, often paired with a login-capture page or callback line.
• (863) 532-7969 — “debit card frozen” script with urgent callback instructions.
• (904) 495-2559 (often paired with 904-501-5027) — “AT&T raffle winner” or giveaway claims that pivot to fees or data capture.
• (312) 339-1227 — weight-loss offers and package-tracking bait used to pull you onto a high-pressure sales or phishing path.
• (917) 540-7996 — so-called “Ghostface/Scream” promotional calls that many recipients report as spam. Not a fraud pitch, but frequently misidentified.
• (347) 437-1689 — “unpaid taxes,” Dyson giveaways, or order-status spam variants. The themes change but the urgency doesn’t.
• (301) 307-4601 — USPS/UPS delivery-spoof texts with tracking links. Clicking links routes you to fake portals.
• (878) 877-1402 — “card locked”/“online banking alert” calls and texts prompting immediate “verification.”
• (202) 221-7923 — student-loan robocalls (“Kelsey Adams,” “code 2108”) pushing you to call back and “confirm” details.

Country codes often linked to scam reports 

Phone scams can originate from anywhere, and numbers are easy to spoof. The entries below are reportedly common in one-ring (“Wangiri”) and similar call-back schemes, as noted by multiple sources online. Use this as context for what to look out for — not as a blacklist.

• +232 (Sierra Leone) — flagged in news alerts citing an FCC warning about a surge in one-ring robocalls. Consumers were urged not to call back unfamiliar overseas numbers.
• +222 (Mauritania) — reportedly involved in the same one-ring wave referenced in the FCC warning coverage.
• Caribbean NANP prefixes often seen in one-ring complaints: 268, 284, 473, 664, 649, 767, 809/829/849, 876 — the FTC explicitly lists these as area codes where missed-call scams have been reported.

U.S. area codes often linked to scam reports

Any U.S. area code can appear on a spoofed caller ID. That said, multiple consumer outlets round up complaint data showing recurring clusters. Treat these as “often reported” in spam/scam chatter — useful for a gut check before you pick up.

• 216 (Cleveland, OH) — frequently cited in consumer lists summarizing spam-call complaints.
• 469 (Dallas, TX) — shows up both in area-code roundups and in BeenVerified’s “Dirty Dozen” numbers (such as 469-709-7630).
• 657 (La Palma/Anaheim, CA) — appears repeatedly in media summaries of complaint spikes.
• 332/347/646 (New York City, NY) — commonly noted across multiple consumer advisories as high-volume spam/scam territory.
• 218 (Northern Minnesota) — regularly included in “watch-list” style consumer pieces.
• 712 (Western Iowa) — likewise reported in roundups of frequently spoofed/abused codes.

How to identify a scammer from a number

Scam calls usually share a few telltale signs: urgency, secrecy, and requests for personal details or money. Before reacting to an unknown number, run through a few quick checks.

1. Don’t pick up immediately, check the caller’s ID

If the screen already warns “Scam Likely” or “Spam Risk,” don’t pick up. Let it roll to voicemail. Those labels come from your phone company’s filters and third-party intelligence. Remember, no label is not a guarantee of safety.  A surprise “security” request for a one-time code, Social Security number, or a wire transfer are giveaways that shouldn’t be ignored. If pressure or secrecy shows up — “don’t hang up,” “don’t tell anyone,” “act now” — end the telephone conversation and initiate your own contact using a number you locate yourself.

2. Check the country code and area code

A prefix isn’t proof, but it’s useful context. Unfamiliar international codes — especially those often linked to one-ring scams — are a cue to wait for a message and avoid calling back. Domestically, “neighbor spoofing” makes a local number look friendly by matching your area code and exchange. If the number is new to you and the caller jumps straight to urgency, you’re looking at a template of a phone scam, not a coincidence.

3. Look up the number online

A 30-second search usually shows whether others have reported the same phone number or phone numbers in the same series. You’ll find user reports, company notices, and sometimes regulator warnings. If a government agency is named — SSA, IRS, local police — ignore the displayed caller ID and visit the agency’s official site to retrieve a verified contact number. One outbound call from you settles it faster than five minutes of back-and-forth with a stranger who’s potentially looking to scam you. If the story lines up with identity-theft patterns, our post on identity theft spells out the early warning signs to watch for while you verify.

What to do if you answered the spam call

Answering a scam call doesn’t automatically put you at risk, but what you do next matters. The goal is to cut off the scammer’s script, avoid giving away sensitive details, and reduce the chance of repeat calls. Here are the steps to take right away.

Hang up the moment it turns pushy

Robotic “final notice” talking points, time-boxed demands (“you have 10 minutes”), or requests for gift cards, crypto, or an immediate wire transfer are your cue to disconnect. Don’t press keys to “unsubscribe” — interacting can train dialers to send more robocalls. End the call and block the number.

Don’t share personal or financial information

During an unsolicited call, never provide a Social Security number, full debit card or bank account details, two-factor codes, or passwords. Real institutions don’t ask for those on a surprise telephone call, and government agencies don’t take payment by gift card, crypto, or wire “for safekeeping.”

Use the tools you already have to stop repeat calls

Turn on call blocking at the network level (your carrier app) and on your device. Review your call list and keep repeat offenders blocked. Then report what happened. The Federal Trade Commission portal routes fraud and telemarketing calls; the FCC’s portal collects unwanted calls and text messages tied to spoofing. Those reports feed trend analysis and enforcement actions that make the ecosystem safer over time. If the impostor posed as the Social Security Administration, submit a report to SSA’s watchdog as well.

What to do if you accidentally provided your sensitive info

Picking up a scam call doesn’t mean you’re trapped — but it does mean you need to act quickly and carefully. The goal is to shut it down, avoid giving away information, and reduce the chances of more calls. Here’s how:

Secure money and accounts first

If you shared financial information or initiated a transfer, call your bank or card issuer immediately. Ask them to monitor or freeze the account, replace cards, and attempt to reverse any payment that’s still in flight. Change passwords anywhere a code or credential may have been exposed and turn on two-factor authentication so scammers can’t get into your accounts.

Lock down your identity and watch for misuse

If you’ve disclosed a Social Security number or other high-risk data, start with the FTC’s IdentityTheft.gov checklist: consider a credit freeze to prevent new accounts, and watch your mail and statements for unfamiliar notices.. If anything matches the fraud patterns we outline in what to do if your phone number found on the dark web — new logins, sign-ups you don’t recognize, or password resets you didn’t request — move fast on resets and documentation so you can file with your bank and insurers if losses occur.

Add ongoing identify theft protection and monitoring

Exposure doesn’t always appear the same day. Data from phone breaches often circulates for months before it’s used. Always-on monitoring shortens the gap between a leak and your response. With security alerts and notifications and seamless dark web monitoring, a service such as NordProtect watches for your personal information in breach data dumps and flags any matches. Pairing those alerts with our guidance keeps cleanup practical instead of chaotic. If an alert ever ties back to your number, our piece on phone scams walks through the call-specific steps while you stabilize everything else.