Philadelphia's 215 area code is heavily targeted by health insurance phishing and utility shutoff scams. Callers try to steal your medical information or frighten you into paying a fake electric bill.
Look up any suspicious number using our scam and spam phone number lookup database. It includes over 29 million Do Not Call and robocall complaints reported to the Federal Trade Commission.
Getting calls from 215 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Levittown, Lansdale) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 215 scams based on user comments:
Scammers are impersonating well-known health insurance companies like United Healthcare, WellCare, BCBS, and Express Scripts. They often use robocalls that know your name, then ask you to verify personal information like your full date of birth before they will proceed. They may also offer "free" medical supplies like back braces, claiming Medicare will pay for them and threatening to remove you from Medicare eligibility if you don't cooperate.
Your real insurance provider already has your date of birth and will not ask you to provide it in full to an automated system on an outbound call. Legitimate representatives will typically verify your identity through other means or ask you to call them back at an official number.
"I received a call from 215-302-4762 claiming it was my health insurance company. An automated voice knew my name and proceeded to ask me for my date of birth!"
Callers are aggressively impersonating the Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO), often spoofing PECO's real number on caller ID. They may offer a 30% discount on your bill for being a loyal customer, or threaten to shut off your power in 30-45 minutes for an overdue payment. Their goal is to create panic and get you to provide your PECO account number or immediate payment information.
PECO does not call customers to threaten immediate service disconnection; they send multiple written notices first. Furthermore, they do not make outbound calls to offer unsolicited discounts that require you to read them your account number.
"Claimed to be PECO calling to save me 30% on my bill because I consistently pay my bill on time. Asked me for my account number at which point I told them they should know that since they know I pay my bill on time. They hung up immediately."
This is a high-pressure scam where a robocall claims your Social Security Number (SSN) has been suspended due to fraudulent activity, often "at the Texas border." The message threatens that ignoring the call will lead to an arrest warrant being issued by a magistrate judge or the IRS. Their goal is to scare you into pressing 1 and speaking with a fake agent who will demand money or personal information.
The Social Security Administration will never call you to threaten your benefits or tell you that you will be arrested. Federal agencies communicate official matters through registered U.S. Mail, not with threatening robocalls.
"I had a (recorded) voicemail from this # - said my SS# was suspended, and to press '1' to clear the matter up. It also stated I was going to be arrested by FBI and court proceedings."
Scammers call claiming a legal complaint has been filed against you or that you have an outstanding debt that requires immediate action. They use threatening language, referencing pending lawsuits, court appearances, and wage garnishment to create a sense of urgency. Often, they are trying to collect on old, invalid, or completely non-existent debts and will get hostile if you question their legitimacy.
Legitimate debt collectors are required by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to provide you with information about the debt in writing. They cannot legally threaten you with arrest or lawsuits they do not intend to pursue.
"Got a call threatening legal action and multiple pending cases... would not let me get a word in then hung up. My father passed away 3 years ago. They talk over you and are very rude."
You receive a robocall claiming to be from Amazon or Apple support to confirm a large, suspicious purchase you did not make, such as an "Iphone 11" for $700 or a "Samsung Gallexy watch." The message instructs you to press 1 or call a specific number if you did not authorize the charge. This is a ploy to get you on the line with a scammer who will then try to steal your account login or credit card information to "cancel" the fake order.
Amazon and Apple do not call customers to confirm purchases. All order confirmations and security alerts are handled via email or through notifications in their official apps.
"Got a call from this number stating they were from Amazon and there was a charge for $700 for an Iphone 11-"
These callers target local businesses, asking to speak directly with the owner, CEO, or CFO. They use deceptive pretexts, claiming to be from Temple University, the University of Pennsylvania, the "City of Philadelphia," or a group called "Business Connection" inquiring about an "upcoming move." Their actual goal is to mine for information, verify the names of executives, and potentially sell this data to other telemarketers.
Legitimate representatives from universities or city government will clearly identify themselves, their department, and the reason for their call. They will not be evasive or hang up when asked for basic verification details.
"Yeah, he called me and said that 'I work with the University of Pennsylvania and I am updating our vendor records'; I said, OK but what company are YOU from? He would not answer and just kept trying to get our owner's name!"
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 215 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Pennsylvania, United States. Area code 215 is a general purpose code that has been in service since January 1, 1947.
Most common 215 scam types are:
You're likely experiencing "Neighbor Spoofing." Scammers fake their caller ID to display local or familiar numbers. If you live in or near Pennsylvania, or have a 215 phone number yourself, scammers know you're more likely to answer what appears to be a local call.
Calling back to unknown spam number may incur premium charges or at least confirm your phone number is active and lead to more spam and scam calls.
There are three main ways to reduce spam calls:
It's definitely possible to block all specific area code phone numbers. However, we do not recommend this option because it would also prevent friends, family, doctors, and legitimate businesses from reaching you.
Other Pennsylvania area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: