In an era where phone scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, New Yorkers need to be vigilant about protecting themselves from fraudulent calls. Here are some of the most dangerous phone numbers and area codes you should be wary of and consider blocking:
Specific Numbers to Block
The FBI has warned New York residents to block these numbers immediately if they attempt to call:
- 904-495-2559 (AT&T raffle winners scam)
- 858-605-9622 (Bank account temporarily on hold scam)
- 878-877-1402 (Card lock scam)
- 863-532-7969 (Debit card frozen scam)
- 469-709-7630 (Failed delivery attempt scam)
These numbers are commonly associated with various scams targeting unsuspecting individuals.
Suspicious Area Codes
Be cautious of calls from these area codes, especially if you don’t know anyone in these locations:
- 332, 347, 646: New York City
- 355: Albania
- 375: Belarus
- 469: Dallas, Texas
- 649: Turks and Caicos Islands
- 657: La Palma, California
While not all calls from these area codes are scams, they are known to be used by scammers frequently.
Types of Scams to Watch Out For
Scammers often use sophisticated tactics to trick people:
- Spoofing: Scammers can make their calls appear to come from legitimate sources, such as your bank or government agencies.
- AI-driven attacks: Scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to make their calls sound more realistic and effective.
- Urgent messages: Be wary of calls claiming there’s an urgent issue with your account or that you owe money to a government agency.
Protecting Yourself
To safeguard against these dangerous phone numbers and scams:
- Register for the National Do Not Call Registry: While this won’t stop all scam calls, it can reduce the number of unwanted telemarketing calls.
- Use call-blocking apps: Many smartphones and carriers offer apps that can block or label potential scam calls.
- Don’t answer unknown numbers: If it’s important, they’ll leave a message.
- Never give out personal information: Legitimate organizations won’t ask for sensitive data over the phone.
- Be skeptical of caller ID: Remember that scammers can spoof legitimate numbers.
The Impact of Scams
The consequences of these scams are significant:
- Over 56.2 million U.S. adults were impacted by spam and scam calls in 2023.
- 1 in 4 Americans reported losing an average of $452 to scams, totaling over $25.4 billion.
- Younger adults (18-44 years) are at three times the risk of older adults.
- Black Americans and Hispanic communities were twice as likely to be scammed compared to White Americans.
New York’s Response
New York has taken steps to combat these scams:
- The “Seinfeld Law,” effective January 1, 2024, requires telemarketers to identify themselves within the first 30 seconds of a call.
- The New York Department of State can fine violators up to $20,000 per call.
Remember, if you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately. Don’t engage with the caller or call back. Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at DoNotCall.gov or ReportFraud.ftc.gov if you’ve lost money.
By staying informed and cautious, New Yorkers can better protect themselves from these dangerous phone numbers and the scams associated with them.
Sources:
- https://lite987.com/fbi-warns-block-these-5-numbers/
- https://wblk.com/scam-area-codes-ny/
- https://www.truecaller.com/blog/insights/the-true-cost-of-spam-and-scam-calls-in-america
- https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-block-unwanted-calls
- https://hudsonvalleypost.com/very-dangerous-phone-numbers-you-should-block-now-in-new-york/
