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People living in California should avoid answering calls from 213 numbers, while New York residents should be careful of 917 calls, new research has revealed.
Analysis of hoax calls by data search firm BeenVerified has uncovered the top phone scam area code number for each state across the US.
The organization collated more than 150,000 phone numbers reported by users of its reverse phone tool in the past two years. The tool allows users to look up a mystery number to find out who is behind an unknown call or text - and to help them decide whether or not to respond.
The warning comes amid a surge in hoax callers and scam texts - with fraudsters using increasingly extreme tactics to get Americans to hand over their personal information.
In 2022, consumers lost more than $326 million from scam texts alone, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Texans should avoid messages from 469 numbers, according to the study, while people living in Florida should be wary of 786 callers.
Out of the more than 150,000 suspicious numbers analyzed by BeenVerified, the company revealed the top 12 numbers across the whole country which were most commonly reported as scams.
Nine of the 'Dirty Dozen' numbers were related to unwanted text messages which tried to get users to click on a suspicious link or call a phone number.
Often, the scammers tried to play with victims' minds by asking them to take immediate action, BeenVerified warned. If a message asks you to do something urgently, it is likely to be a con.
Four of the top 12 reported numbers impersonated communication from banks or credit card companies, it found, including Wells Fargo and Chase.
Some messages warned victims their bank account had been temporarily locked and they should get in contact right away, while others claimed that a target's debit card had been frozen due to 'a potential risk related to your account.'
While delivery scams soared during the Covid-19 pandemic, these cons are still common, according to the study, with three of the top 12 scams impersonating major delivery firms such as DHL or FedEx.
Meanwhile, two of the 'Dirty Dozen' numbers attempted to lure in Americans by saying they have won a contest, a prize or even free cash.
More Here
Analysis of hoax calls by data search firm BeenVerified has uncovered the top phone scam area code number for each state across the US.
The organization collated more than 150,000 phone numbers reported by users of its reverse phone tool in the past two years. The tool allows users to look up a mystery number to find out who is behind an unknown call or text - and to help them decide whether or not to respond.
The warning comes amid a surge in hoax callers and scam texts - with fraudsters using increasingly extreme tactics to get Americans to hand over their personal information.
In 2022, consumers lost more than $326 million from scam texts alone, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Texans should avoid messages from 469 numbers, according to the study, while people living in Florida should be wary of 786 callers.
Out of the more than 150,000 suspicious numbers analyzed by BeenVerified, the company revealed the top 12 numbers across the whole country which were most commonly reported as scams.
Nine of the 'Dirty Dozen' numbers were related to unwanted text messages which tried to get users to click on a suspicious link or call a phone number.
Often, the scammers tried to play with victims' minds by asking them to take immediate action, BeenVerified warned. If a message asks you to do something urgently, it is likely to be a con.
Four of the top 12 reported numbers impersonated communication from banks or credit card companies, it found, including Wells Fargo and Chase.
Some messages warned victims their bank account had been temporarily locked and they should get in contact right away, while others claimed that a target's debit card had been frozen due to 'a potential risk related to your account.'
While delivery scams soared during the Covid-19 pandemic, these cons are still common, according to the study, with three of the top 12 scams impersonating major delivery firms such as DHL or FedEx.
Meanwhile, two of the 'Dirty Dozen' numbers attempted to lure in Americans by saying they have won a contest, a prize or even free cash.
More Here
