The 216 area code is frequently used for fake delivery text scams and phantom debt collection calls. Scammers want you to click a link or pay a debt you do not actually owe.
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 216 area code and wonder if it's a scam? You're not alone. Scammers frequently spoof Ohio (Cleveland, Lakewood, Euclid) phone numbers to trick you into answering. Here are the most common area code 216 scams based on user comments:
Many Cleveland residents are receiving deceptive text messages pretending to be from major companies like UPS, FedEx, Netflix, or Amazon. These messages falsely claim a package is ready for pickup or that your account payment has been declined, and they always include a link designed to steal your personal and financial information.
Companies like UPS, FedEx, and Netflix do not send account alerts from random 10-digit phone numbers. Official communications typically come from an official app, email, or a designated short-code number, not a local 216 number.
"Got a text: 'Due to COVID-19, Netflix is giving everyone a free 1-year subscription to help you stay home.' then there's a link"
Scammers are aggressively calling 216 residents, threatening legal action like wage garnishment or arrest for bogus debts. These callers often impersonate law firms or mediation groups, using intimidation to demand immediate payment, sometimes for debts of deceased relatives.
Real process servers do not call ahead to warn you; they just show up. Legitimate debt collectors must provide you with a written validation notice within five days of first contacting you, and they cannot legally threaten you with arrest for consumer debt.
"Female voice threatening to show up at my home or place of employment to serve me with some kind of papers for some kind of court date. Very nasty. I have blocked numbers with this same voice before, they come up with new numbers and the same female voice recording."
An aggressive robocall scam is targeting our area, leaving automated voicemails that claim your Social Security Number (SSN) has been "suspended" due to fraudulent activity. The message then pressures you to call back immediately to avoid further legal action.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) will never call you to threaten you or suspend your SSN. The SSA's primary method of contact is through the U.S. Mail, not unsolicited phone calls.
"I have been repeatedly getting messages from this number stating 'my social security number has been suspended.' When you call the number back, it is a man who answers. NOT in anyway related to the social security office."
Be cautious of callers claiming to be from local Cleveland-area hospitals like the Cleveland Clinic or University Hospitals. Scammers are using the names of these trusted institutions to trick you into giving up personal information, such as asking you to confirm your birthdate to proceed with the call.
Hospitals will not call you from a random number to ask for sensitive information like your date of birth unless you have initiated contact for a specific and expected reason. These calls are an attempt to gather your data for identity theft.
"My husband got a call on his phone for our 17 year old saying they were the Cleveland clinic and asking if she got the Brochures they sent her? She has never been to the Cleveland clinic but we have."
This is a tricky scam designed to capture your voice. The caller may speak very softly or there might be silence on the line, prompting them to ask, "Can you hear me now?" Their goal is to get you to say "yes," which they can record and potentially use as a voice signature to authorize fraudulent charges.
While it's difficult for scammers to authorize charges with just a "yes" recording, it is a known tactic they use to verify that your number is active and that you are a potential target for more sophisticated scams. It's best to avoid engaging at all.
"The person spoke so low I could not hear, and, asked them to speak up. When he said 'can you hear me now' I said 'yes'. Immediately I got bummed out that I said that, because I had heard of a scam call that tries to get you to say 'yes'..."
If you've recently been in a car accident in the Cleveland area, be aware that scammers may get your phone number from a publicly filed police report. They will then call or text you, pretending to be an "injury helpline" or attorney, offering to help you settle a claim.
Reputable law firms and medical services do not get client information by scraping police reports and then sending unsolicited spam texts. This practice is unethical and often a sign of a high-pressure sales tactic or scam.
"Cold called after I filed a police report for damage to my vehicle"
Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 201 Scams and Spam Calls
No, area code 216 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in Ohio, United States. Area code 216 is a general purpose code that has been in service since January 1, 1947.
Most common 216 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 Ohio, or have a 216 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 Ohio area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: